Man convicted of driving offences '¨in his abscence

He was Christopher Barry Carlisle and his address was given to the court as Lakeview Court, Craigavon.

For driving with excess alcohol on April 20 last year he was sentenced to four months in prison and a concurrent three month term was imposed for not having insurance.

The terms which are to run concurrently were suspended for three years and he was also banned from driving for three years.

Carlisle was also fined £150, with a £15 offender’s levy, for not having a licence.

The court heard that just after 6pm a police mobile patrol saw the defendant driving a vehicle.

Carlisle parked the car and then went into his home address. When police spoke to him they noticed a smell of alcohol on his breath.

An evidential sample gave a reading of 59 - the legal limit is 35.

A solicitor representing the defendant said he had a fairly extensive record but it was 2008 since his last traffic incident.

Carlisle was convicted of the offences in his absence and sentencing adjourned so that a pre-sentence report could be obtained.

District Judge, Mr Mervyn Bates, said he heard the case and was satisfied on the evidence that Carlisle was driving this vehicle.

He added that a community sentence was not an option as the defendant had indicated his intention to 
appeal against his conviction.