Jail sentence for drink driver

John Jennett, of Seapatrick Avenue, Banbridge, admitted four offences which happened on June 26 last year.

For driving with excess alcohol, not having insurance, criminal damage and driving while disqualified he was sentenced to two months in prison. The terms are to runconcurrently.

He was also disqualified from driving for three years and ordered to pay a £25 offender’s levy.

The court heard that around 9.25pm at the Charles Street car park in Lurgan, Jennett was seen to get out of the driver’s side of a car and walk away.

He failed a breath test, giving a reading of 79, and refused to provide his details.

At Lurgan custody suite an evidential test gave a reading of 110. While in the cell Jennett smeared food across the walls.

When he was identified, it was discovered he had been disqualified from driving atArmagh Magistrates Court on May 5 last year.

Jennett said that he had no memory of the events of the previous evening.

When interviewed later by police he said another man he had met in Tandragee had been driving and he had got out of the car by the driver’s side.

He gave a name to police but they could not find anyone with this name.

A barrister representing Jennett said his client accepted he had been in the driver’s seat and had moved the car in the car park. He had been a passenger up until he got to the car park.

District Judge, Mrs Bernie Kelly, said this were serious charges. She added that while the defendant was entitled to credit for his pleas of guilty he had ‘an atrocious record’ and had shown a disregard for traffic laws and court orders.

The judge pointed out that this was Jennett’s third drink drive conviction inside 10 years and he was three times the legal limit. She was satisfied that the offences crossed the custody threshold.