Suspended prison sentence for local man

Suspended prison sentence for local man

27 November 2013

DAMAGING a parked car and ignoring police during a drunken driving spree has landed a Dundrum man with a suspended prison sentence.

Fifty three year-old James Trainor appeared at Downpatrick Court on Thursday after committing the offences on September 2.

The court was told Trainor was driving in the centre of Downpatrick when he crashed into a car parked at traffic lights.

Then he drove through the red lights on the wrong side of the road, ignoring a police car which was following him with its lights flashing.

He finally stopped when his path was blocked by oncoming traffic and police removed his car keys from the ignition.

When he was breathalysed two hours later Trainor gave a reading of 122mgs, almost four times the legal limit of 35mgs. He said he wasn’t aware he had hit another car.

He was charged with driving while unfit, dangerous driving, failing to stop, remain or report a damage only accident, driving without a licence or insurance and failing to stop for police.

A defence solicitor said Trainor had started drinking after an argument with his ex-wife, but admitted it had been disgraceful behaviour.

Along with fines of £400, Trainor received a total ten month suspended prison sentence and he was disqualified from driving for five years.

Deputy District Judge Alan White told Trainor, of Church Avenue, it had been “atrocious driving from someone with a previous record for drinking and driving.

“You commit offences in the next three years and you will be serving ten months,” he said.