A man has been handed a three year driving ban after being convicted in his absence to failing to provide a specimen of breath to police and being disorderly at Craigavon Area Hospital.
Court heard that the 45-year-old had a previous entry on his record of driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs dating back to 2014.
Thomas Graham, of Killycarn Road, Loughgilly, was convicted in his absence of resisting police, disorderly behaviour and failing to provide a specimen of breath at the Armagh Magistrates’, sitting at Newry.
Prosecution outlined that at 8am on August 25, of last year, police received a report of a suspicious vehicle which was missing a tyre in the vicinity of Clare Road in Tandragee.
The reporting person stated they had seen a male driver and a female passenger exit the vehicle to look at the tyre before returning and driving off.
Officers located the vehicle abandoned nearby with a missing tyre and they later found the defendant.
It was noted that Graham appeared intoxicated, his speech was slurred, his eyes glazed and he smelled of intoxicating liquor.
The defendant became aggressive upon his arrest before he was placed in a police vehicle.
After complaining of chest pains, Graham was taken to Craigavon Area Hospital, and whilst here he refused medical attention and once more became aggressive.
It was outlined how the defendant shouted and swore at both officers and staff at the hospital.
He was subsequently taken to Banbridge Custody Suite. After being declared fit to do so, the defendant was asked to provided a specimen of breath for testing but refused.
Police later established that keys which were found on Graham’s person belonged to the vehicle which had been abandoned.
District Judge Eamonn King stated that the case against the defendant was “proved in his absence”.
Prosecution outlined that Graham had 13 previous convictions, four for road traffic offences including a driving whilst unfit from 2014.
District Judge King disqualified the defendant from driving for three years and ordered that he pay a fine of £1,100, along with the offender’s levy of £15.
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