Enniskillen Courthouse
A 22-year-old father from Enniskillen accused of causing over £1,000 in damage to a car after attempting to overtake it, has over 16 convictions of driving offences, Fermanagh court has heard.
Ivan Mark Crawford, of Galliagh Park, pleaded guilty to charges of driving without due care and attention and failing to produce a drivers licence when he appeared before court.
Unemployed Crawford racked up some 16 convictions after passing his driving test two years ago.
A prosecutor outlined to the court that on November 28 last year at approximately 6pm, Crawford was travelling along the Newbridge Road towards Lisnaskea when he overtook a car in front at around 65mph.
However, as he went to pass the jeep he was met by an oncoming car which he claimed not to have seen previously.
The driver of the jeep told officers that the oncoming vehicle was too close for Crawford to overtake safely forcing it to swerve and ended up in the grass verge.
As Crawford attempted to pull back into the lane to avoid a collision, he clipped the steps on the side of the jeep, causing in excess of £1,000 in damage.
Police were called to the scene and asked Crawford for a copy of his licence, however, as he did not have it with him, he was told to bring it to a police station within seven days, which the court heard he failed to do.
Defence solicitor Garry Smyth told the court that his client believed it was safe for him to carry out the manoeuvre, and only spotted the oncoming vehicle as he was overtaking the jeep.
“Mr Crawford was concerned when he saw it and unfortunately the impact took place and the other vehicle was struck,” he said.
“He pulled in after the collision and provided his details to police. It’s a particularly straight stretch of road but there was a rise and fall preventing him from seeing the vehicle and in hindsight he knows he should not have overtaken.
“The defendant has endeavoured to keep himself on the right side of the law and has since disposed of the vehicle.”
District Judge Nigel Broderick told the court that it was on the higher end of careless driving.
Judge Broderick added: “He is a young driver and has some difficulty obeying the road traffic regulations and disqualification of some note is inevitable.
“But it’s whether to give him a set period or until he passes his test.
“The damage caused to this could have been a lot more serious. He is quite a young man but has some 16 convictions of a similar type and a disqualification for speeding and no insurance.”
Crawford was banned from driving for six months and ordered to pay fines amounting to £250.
A third charge of driving without a licence was withdrawn by the public prosecution service.
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