A man who suffered a head injury after riding an electric scooter whilst over the limit has been handed a 12 month disqualification.
The 42-year-old’s barrister told court: “He had been at his brother’s drinking. He had not taken the car and took his brother’s electric scooter. He had his hi-vis vest on. He thought he was doing the right thing.”
Milosz Goralik, of Ardallan Park in Warrenpoint, had pleas of guilty entered to driving with excess alcohol and using a vehicle without insurance at Newry Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Prosecution outlined that on May 14, police received a request for assistance by the Ambulance Service to the Upper Dromore Road in Warrenpoint.
This was with regards a male, who was suspected of being intoxicated, being treated for a head injury after crashing an electronic scooter.
Officers arrived at the scene to find this defendant sitting on a wall, receiving treatment for injuries to his right temple and eye.
It was noted by police that Goralik smelled of intoxicating liquor and a preliminary breath test was conducted resulting in a fail.
A subsequent evidential sample was obtained and this gave a reading of 76mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.
Two witnesses claimed to have seen the defendant lose control of the scooter as he was overtaking vehicles on the Upper Dromore Road. He hit a kerb, fell off the vehicle and his head struck a wall.
Goralik was later further arrested as it was established that he was not insured to drive the scooter on the date in question.
Defence barrister Stephen Campbell stated: “I would ask that this is viewed as an early plea as the only question was over the vehicle. It was established the electric scooter fell under the legislation of the offences.
“He is a Polish national, he has lived in Northern Ireland for 15 years and unfortunately he is a self employed lorry driver by trade.”
He continued: “He has held a licence for 23 years, the only other entry on it was three penalty points for speeding. He has no other record and this is an early plea.
“He had been at his brother’s drinking. He had not taken the car and took his brother’s electric scooter. He had his hi-vis vest on. He thought he was doing the right thing.”
District Judge Eamonn King disqualified Goralik from driving for 12 months and ordered that he pay a fine of £400, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within eight weeks.
The defendant was certified for the drink driving course which would see his ban reduced to one of nine months upon completion.
