A restricted driver who reached an estimated speed of 100mph in wet conditions after passing a liveried police car at night has been banned from driving.
Aras Bajarkevicius (18), of Drumford Meadow in Craigavon, was in a Seat Leon when he passed police on the M1 motorway near Moira after 9pm on October 6 last year.
After watching footage, District Judge Michael Ranaghan dismissed a charge of dangerous driving.
However, he said the driving “could have caused problems”.
He convicted the defendant on charges of exceeding an R driver restriction of 45mph and not having a rear R plate displayed.
The defendant passed police doing around 70mph and increased his speed which was estimated to be between 90-100mph.
When spoken to by police it was established the defendant was an R driver and no R plates were displayed.
Craigavon Magistrates’ Court was told the defendant is currently serving a driving ban until October.
Regarding the incident last year, a defence barrister conceded it was “far too fast, no excuse”.
He said the defendant had been “very, very, foolish” and the incident was a “wake-up call”.
Judge Ranaghan said it had been a “grossly excessive” speed for an R driver and banned the defendant from driving for four months and fined him £225.
