Man gets one year driving ban after child ‘not in seat’

Man gets one year driving ban after child ‘not in seat’

16 August 2017

A CASTLEWELLAN man who did not have his child properly secured as he drove dangerously on local roads has been banned from driving for 12 months and fined £600.

After a contested hearing at Downpatrick Court on Thursday, 26-year-old David Rhys, of Bellfield, was 

convicted of dangerous driving, driving while unfit through drink or drugs, and carrying a child, aged under 12, without a proper restraint.

In addition, he was convicted of possessing the class C drug alprazolam.

The prosecution case centred on the fact that the defendant was seen driving on the wrong side of the road and swerving several times during his journey between Kilcoo and Castlewellan on March 11. 

Rhys was also observed speeding up and slowing down his vehicle, in an erratic manner.

The witness then came upon Rhys’ car, which had crashed at Castlewellan. There was a young child in the car without a proper child seat at the time.

A defence solicitor said Rhys had taken a sleeping tablet while in Belfast and then drove to pick up his son in Kilcoo. While he was driving the tablet started to take effect, which is what caused the nature of his driving, he added. 

As for the alprazolam Rhys had, the solicitor added that they are a preion tablet, albeit they were not prescribed to his client. 

Convicting the defendant, Deputy District Judge Philip Mateer said: “I’m more than satisfied this is dangerous driving due to the prolonged nature of the driving and that at least one other road user was put in jeopardy.”

In addition to the disqualification and fine, Mr Mateer imposed a 12-month conditional discharge for the drug offence.