A Loughgall man who was caught with no insurance after the car he just bought broke down on his way home has been handed a six-month disqualification.
Court heard the 31-year-old wished to appeal the sentence and was granted permission to drive pending this.
Paul Madden, of Tirmacrannon Road, pleaded guilty to using a vehicle without insurance and having no vehicle test certificate at Armagh Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
Court heard that on October 13, at around 12.30am, police on patrol of the Armagh Road spotted a Vauxhall Omega at the side of the road with smoke coming from it.
Officers spoke to the defendant who claimed he had just purchased the vehicle in Portadown and it had broken down as he drove it home.
Madden told police at the side of the road the car had been purchased for drifting.
Checks of the vehicle showed that it held no valid policy of insurance or MOT.
Prosecution stated that the defendant failed a preliminary breath test but an evidential sample taken in custody was below the limit.
Defence counsel said: “Mr Madden had bought the car for £400 to get himself on the road. He had not yet insured the vehicle when it broke down as he took it home.”
Court was also informed that the defendant had one previous conviction for no insurance from 2007 and an offence of failing to report an accident from 2014.
Madden was handed a six-month disqualification and ordered to pay a fine of £300, along with the offender’s levy of £15.
Court was told the defendant wished to appeal this sentence.
Bail, for appeal purposes, was set at £500, with District Judge Rosie Watters granting permission to drive pending appeal.
