A man who was caught riding a scrambler whilst disqualified after being involved in a collision in Portadown has been handed a three-year ban and 100 hours of community service.
The district judge told the 24-year-old: “You keep shooting yourself in the foot. If you behave yourself you could get back on the road.”
Sean Fitzpatrick, of Pinebank Gardens, Dungannon, pleaded guilty to using a vehicle without insurance and driving whilst disqualified at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
It was heard that on October 15, police were called to a two-vehicle collision on the Teagy Road, Portadown, involving a car and a scrambler.
Officers spoke to the defendant, who had been in charge of the scrambler, and checks showed he was a disqualified driver.
He was later interviewed, making admissions to being disqualified and having no insurance.
Defence solicitor John McAtamney stated: “He has previous no insurance and is subject to a suspended sentence from Dungannon Magistrates’ Court on September 6, 2017.
“He previously completed community service and is trying to put his offending in the past.”
He added: “This was a scrambler at a relative’s home. He usually drives it in fields, this was a minor road but he should not have been there.”
District Judge Stephen Keown stated: “You keep shooting yourself in the foot. If you behave yourself you could get back on the road.
“If this happens again you will be going to jail.”
Fitzpatrick was disqualified from driving for three years and sentenced to 100 hours of community service.
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