A Portadown man who twice gave police false claims to insurance has been fined and handed six penalty points.
The 34-year-old, of Mahon Road, pleaded guilty at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday charged with driving whilst uninsured and failing to produce his licence to police.
Court heard the incident occurred on November 29, at around 9.10am, when police on patrol in the Craigavon area stopped the defendant on the Northway driving a Seat Altea after it was flagged as uninsured.
At the roadside, the defendant told police he was insured but did not have the documents.
It was heard he first told officers he was insured through Abbey, but checks were made, which showed this was not the case.
The defendant then told them his policy was with Hughes and this was confirmed by the company, but that the cover had been cancelled in October.
When approached by police with this information the 34-year-old asked: “Can’t I just get insured today?”
The defendant, who represented himself in court, explained to District Judge Bernie Kelly that the policy had been cancelled as he had not opened a letter which requested proof of his no claims.
The Judge told him that this was “not good enough” as most of this can be completed online.
The defendant had six penalty points placed on his licence and was ordered to pay £300 in fines, along with the offender’s levy of £15.
