A Portadown man who took his son’s car to a friend’s house for “a few beers” has been disqualified from driving for 12 months after “stupidly” deciding to drive home.
Andrzej Krepula, 44, of Churchill Park, admitted driving over the legal alcohol limit, not having a driving licence or insurance and taking a vehicle without authority when he appeared at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court.
The court heard police were called to a report of a Citroen C4 being driven erratically in the Portadown area on March 8.
At around 1am officers located and stopped the defendant on the Garvaghy Road. When they spoke to him defendant appeared to be intoxicated.
A roadside preliminary breath test was failed by Krepula and he was subsequently arrested.
Police checks showed that the defendant had no licence or insurance and a breathalyser test in custody gave a reading of 70mgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath.
During interview Krepula made a full admission, explaining that the vehicle belonged to his son.
Defence counsel told the court his client had taken the car to go to a friend’s house to have a “few beers” but had not informed his son.
Krepula had then “foolishly” decided to drive the car home.
Court heard that the defendant has lived in Northern Ireland for 10 years, worked that entire time and has no record for anything of this nature.
District Judge Bernie Kelly banned Krepula from driving for a year and ordered him to fines totalling £625, along with the offender’s levy of £25, within 20 weeks.
