A Co Armagh drink driver crashed his car after getting into an argument with his mother, a court heard.
Nathan Stockdale, originally from Loughgall, but with an address of Divis Street in Belfast, appeared before Armagh Magistrates’ Court, sitting in Newry, on Tuesday charged with drink driving.
The court heard that shortly after 10.30pm on October, the 25-year-old called his mother saying he had just crashed his vehicle close to Loughgall. His mother then informed police of the accident.
A short time later police found the Kia Sportage in the field within the vicinity of Ballygassey Road with a substantial amount of damage to the front.
Stockdale was breathalysed a number of hours later and returned a reading of 88mcgs – more than two times the legal limit.
Stockdale’s defence barrister told the court that his client “gave a full and frank account of the circumstances leading up to to that crash, and he indicated to the police that he had been drinking”.
He added: “He indicated the amount that he drunk and that he explained the circumstances of him having had an argument with his mother. This was a domestic situation in the family home and he had decided to leave the family home and that is currently the situation, Your Worship; he’s now residing at a hostel.”
The defence referenced a “very limited record”.
“He’s been driving for the past five years and has worked as a landscape gardener, so driving – his licence – is essential to him.
“I hope Your Worship will also take into account the fact that he was arrested a number of hours after the incident, and notwithstanding that, he could have very easily said he began drinking after the accident. He didn’t. He was full, frank and honest.”
District Judge Anne Marshall handed Stockdale a fine of £250 along with the £15 offenders’ levy.
She added: “Given the reading is more than twice the legal limit, and that there was a collision, that has to be reflected in some way, however, given your limited record, I’ll keep the disqualification to one of 13 months, which is only one month over the minimum.”
