A drink driver who was caught swerving along a road in Armagh city is “going to lose his job”, a court has heard.
Boris Kanev, of Newry Road, Armagh, appeared before the city’s magistrates’ court – sitting in Newry on Tuesday – charged with driving with excess alcohol.
The 45-year-old, who has been living in Northern Ireland for the last five years, pleaded guilty to the single charge while a charge of driving while unfit was withdrawn.
The prosecution stated that at approximately 11.40pm on September 14, Kanev was driving a black BMW along the Cathedral Road in Armagh when he was spotted, by police, swerving across the central road markings.
Police stopped the vehicle and Kanev appeared unsteady on his feet.
He blew 41 in a roadside breath test, and 40 while in custody.
His defence solicitor said: “This is not a high reading; it’s just over the limit and he has co-operated with police fully.
“He’s from Bulgaria; he’s been here five years with no record or no penalty points.
“The difficulty he’s going to have is he’s going to lose his job because he works near Moy and there are driving duties with his job, so that’s an unfortunate consequence.”
District Judge Laura Marshall issued the defendant with a £200 fine and £15 offenders’ levy. He was given 16 weeks to pay. He was also banned from driving for 12 months.
