A Portadown man who was caught driving whilst disqualified and uninsured in a car he won in a raffle has been sentenced to community service.
The 22-year-old’s solicitor told court: “He won the car in a raffle after buying a ticket for £25; he since sold it in the summer and has no access to any vehicle.”
Fraser Martin, of Ballyhannon Park, pleaded guilty to driving whilst disqualified and using a vehicle without insurance at Craigavon Magistrates’, sitting at Lisburn, on Friday.
Prosecution outlined that on February 28, police had reason to stop the defendant driving a Lexus car on Woodside Green, Portadown.
It was noted that Martin appeared nervous by officers and police checks showed that he was a disqualified driver and was not insured to drive the vehicle in question.
The defendant was arrested at 9.40pm and submitted to a notebook interview, during which he made full and frank admissions.
District Judge Rosie Watters, upon looking at Martin’s record, noted that he had only been disqualified on February 2.
Defence solicitor Richard Montieth stated: “He won the car in a raffle after buying a ticket for £25, he since sold it in the summer and has no access to any vehicle”.
Explaining his client’s “frame of mind”, Mr Montieth stated that there had been a split in his family over certain issues and he had lost his job.
He added: “He comes from a good background, his father is outside the courtroom and brought him here. For a man of his background to amass 50 convictions in two years will not impress your worship.
“But I do trust that he will not be someone who will be before the courts again.”
District Judge Watters stated: “Boy you’ve got yourself in a lot of trouble, you’ve made a mess and it is now time to turn you life around.”
Martin was disqualified from driving for 12 months and sentenced to an enhanced combination order consisting of 12 months probation and 100 hours community service.
