An Armagh learner driver who tried to fool police by jumping in the back seat after being caught driving has been handed a three month ban.
The 21-year-old’s legal representative told court: “There was a degree of naivety in him jumping into the back seat of the car, but he did fold when spoken to by the police.”
Jackie McQuaid, of Legar Hill Park, pleaded guilty to using a vehicle without insurance, being an unaccompanied ‘L’ driver and not displaying ‘L’ plates at the city’s Magistrates’ on Tuesday.
Prosecution outlined that on June 10, at around 3am, police on patrol in Milford observed an Audi A4 being driven on the Monaghan Road.
Officers watched the car make a right turn onto Hill Street, they followed to find the vehicle parked with its front end on the hard shoulder and its rear on the road.
Police had observed a young man driving as it passed them but arrived to find this same male in the middle rear seat of the vehicle.
They spoke to the male, who identified himself as the defendant, and he claimed that the driver of the vehicle had made off.
However, later he admitted that he had made this story up and informed police that he was a learner driver with no insurance.
Defence counsel stated: “There was a degree of naivety in him jumping into the back seat of the car, but he did fold when spoken to by the police.
“This is a young man who normally works full time, he presents with no record and had pleaded guilty to no insurance and no ‘L’ plates at an early stage”.
McQuaid was disqualified from driving for three months and ordered to pay a fine of £350, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within four weeks.
