Enniskillen Courthouse
A LISNASKEA man has pleaded guilty to drink driving offences at Enniskillen Magistrates Court.
Kevin Oates, 49, of Tullynevin Road, was arraigned on charges of driving with excess alcohol in blood, no car insurance and failing to provide a breath sample.
A representative from the Public Prosecution Service explained to the court that on St Patrick’s Day this year at approximately 9.40pm police were on patrol in the Lisnaskea area when they spotted a Seat Leon stopped at the side of the Ballagh Road.
As the officers went to speak with the driver, he took off and the officers proceeded to follow him.
The driver, identified as Oates, was stopped a short time later and questioned by the officers.
Oates admitted to the officers that he had taken alcohol that day but refused to provide them with a breath sample.
The court also heard that the accused admitted to the officers that he did not have any car insurance as he did not have enough money in his bank account to cover the cost.
He was then taken to the local PSNI station where a blood sample test revealed he had 214mg of alcohol in his system, over twice the legal limit.
Oates appeared at Enniskillen Magistrates Court without any legal representation.
When asked by Deputy Judge Anne Marshall if he had anything to say regarding the incident or if he had a problem with drink, he replied: “I have nothing to say about it. I like to take a drink.”
Oates, who has no previous convictions, told the court that he works up to three days a week in construction.
Judge Marshall told the accused that it was a “serious combination of offences” while describing his alcohol reading as “very high”.
Judge Marshall added: “You were not insured either and you could have had an accident and killed someone.”
Oates was banned from drinking for 12 months and ordered to pay fines totalling £550.
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