A swimming coach and personal trainer was detected driving twice in the same month that he had been disqualified.
Justin Langford (26) with an address at Drumgoon Road in Maguiresbridge appeared before Enniskillen Magistrates Court for sentencing on Monday.
The court heard that police were on patrol on the A4 Belfast Road at Tamlaght at 8.35pm on June 7th last when they observed Langford driving a blue Ford Ka while disqualified, uninsured and with no MOT.
He told police: “I was disqualified last week and have no insurance. I got my insurance cancelled but wanted to get the car home.”
In a second incident at 6.55pm on June 22nd, plain clothed police officers observed Langford driving a yellow Smart Car at Tesco on Derrychara Road, Enniskillen. He drove on to the petrol pumps at Asda and police officers blocked his path and activated the blue light and horn. When cautioned by police, Langford put his hands up and told them: “I know why you have stopped me, I’ve got no insurance and I’m disqualified.”
He was charged with driving while disqualified, having no insurance and fraud by failing to disclose information. The court heard the defendant had been disqualified from driving for 14 months on June 1st after pleading guilty to driving with excess alcohol in the blood and driving with no insurance. The court heard that Langford became insured on his father’s policy on June 18th but hadn’t told him that he had been disqualified.
Defence barrister Blaine Nugent said that when stopped on both occassions, his client had admitted that he was disqualified, adding: “These were two flagrant breaches of a court order but there was no attempt at deception. He should have thought before he got into the vehicles”.
Mr Nugent said his client was a young man with significant promise in terms of his sporting achievements.
“He is a valued member of society but now faces becoming a burden on society. He pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and wishes to return to England as he lives in a rural area and finds it difficult to commute.”
District Judge Nigel Broderick told Langford that he was very fortunate not to be going to prison for breaching the court order not once but twice.
Langford was sentenced to three months imprisonment suspended for 18 months. He was also fined £100 for having no MOT and disqualified from driving for 18 months.
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