University student Nathan Kerr (21) of Moorlough Road, Killyguallan contested a charge of dangerous driving at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Wednesday after the incident at Lidl carpark in Lisnaskea last year.

At around 10pm on September 3 Kerr was observed revving the engine of his black BMW 5-Series, spinning its back wheels, and taking off in what appeared to be a deliberate attempt to cause the car to drift. Police then saw Kerr, who had a passenger in the car, take off at what they felt was at speed, travel around the nearby roundabout, and return to the carpark where he parked beside a friend.

Kerr’s manoeuvres left two large black tyre marks on the road, one of approximately 30 feet in the carpark, and one of around 15 feet at the entrance to the car park.  In his police interview Kerr denied dangerous driving, but accepted he had been revving his engine and had let out his clutch to see if the car wheels would spin. The Ulster University engineering student told the police he had been “trying to act the lad.” 

The court heard from one of the officers involved, who said Kerr had cooperated with police at all times. The officer said Kerr was upset about the matter due to his father being a driving instructor, and because his licence was important for him to get to college in Jordanstown. 

The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) said Kerr’s driving had been dangerous as he had a passenger on board, because there were pedestrians in the area, and because he had driven on the main road also. They said the manner of his driving was “deliberate and persistent” and said he had been driving a very powerful car that could’ve gone into a spin when the engine was revved, where there would’ve been a high chance loosing control and veering into a crowd of people. 

District Judge Nigel Broderick said while Kerr had exhibited “a poor piece of driving with an element of bravado and showing off, and he should’ve known better”, he said he believed it fell short of the statutory definition of dangerous driving. Instead he convicted Kerr, who already had six points on his licence including three for his role in a collision in December, of careless driving. 

Judge Broderick said Kerr’s father would “not be pleased” with his son’s exploits, which he said were at “the higher end” of careless driving. He said his actions warranted a driving disqualification in order to “send a message that such driving will not be tolerated by this court.” He fined Kerr £200 and disqualified him from driving for one month.