A Portadown man who told police it was not an offence for him to stand in the middle of the road has been fined £300.
A district judge told the 23-year-old: “If that driver decided not to stop we would be scraping you off the road.”
Jose Martins, 23, of Park Road, pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour and jaywalking at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Court heard that on January 20, at around 2.15am, police on patrol of the Portadown area had their attention drawn to a male standing in the middle of the road on West Street.
Cars had been brought to a stop and were beeping their horns.
Officers spoke to the male, identified as the defendant, warning him that he must move.
Martins reacted by shouting abuse at police. This continued despite being told to stop several times.
The defendant was arrested and taken to Lurgan Custody Suite. Subsequent checks showed that Martins was subject to a deportation order.
Defence solicitor Philip Reid stated: “Mr Martins was very intoxicated and made a nuisance of himself. He now appears very contrite about the whole incident.
“He was given enough opportunities by police to move on but he refused to cooperate.”
He added: “This was at two o’clock in the morning. There was limited traffic but it is accepted that there were cars on the road.”
District Judge Bernie Kelly revealed that Martins told police: “It’s not an offence. I can stand in the middle of the road.”
District Judge Kelly stated: “Mr Martins think of the alternative. If that driver decided not to stop we would be scraping you off the road.”
Court heard that the defendant had been living in Northern Ireland for 12 years and had three previous entries on his record.
Martins was ordered to pay a fine of £300, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within 12 weeks.
