A Portadown man – who blamed a road traffic collision on being “tired and distracted” after three or four night-shifts in a row – has been fined and given penalty points.
Michal Kulikowski, 30, of Carrickblacker Road, pleaded guilty at Craigavon Magistrates’ to driving without due care and attention and with no licence.
The court heard police were called to a two-car road traffic collision on the Seagoe Road, Portadown, at around 1.30pm on February 4.
The defendant had been driving a Suzuki SX4 which struck the back of a Mercedes A class which had been stationary as it attempted to make a right turn.
When officers arrived Kulikowski admitted that the accident had been his fault and provided them with his provisional licence.
The defendant suffered minor injuries from the collision and the other party reported none, the court heard.
Defence counsel said that prior to the collision Kulikowski had worked three or four night-shifts in a row which had made him tired and not completely concentrating on his driving.
Defence said his client – who had moved from Poland to Northern Ireland five years ago – had also been distracted by the car behind him which he believed to be “very close”.
District Judge Bernie Kelly endorsed defendant’s licence with three penalty points and ordered him to pay a fine of £150, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within eight weeks.
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