Defendant "a little over confident" behind the wheel

A 20-year-old man, who used “a lack of experience” by taking a car out that hit another vehicle, has been heavily fined.

The case of Ryan Cummings, of Breagh Hill, Portadown, was heard at Craigavon Courthouse sitting on Tuesday, February 22.

The court heard that on September 19 last year, police attended an address following a report of a damage to a vehicle.

Officers were told that the injured party’s vehicle had been struck by another vehicle and noticed it was missing a front driver’s side wing mirror and had scrapes to the front side of the car.

The defendant was spoken to by police and asked for his driving licence to be produced but he was unable to do so. When police were leaving the property Cummings made a significant statement saying that he was driving the vehicle in question and he had no valid insurance.

He was then interviewed and made full admissions to the offences.

In his defence, the court was told that Cummings was not previously known to police and has been employed by a local business since October last year. It was stated that he bought the car on an earlier occasion but that he had failed his theory test eight or nine times.

It was added on his behalf that he had taken a few lessons and was probably “a little over confident” by taking the car for a spin and cut a corner too widely and did not approach the owner due to his “lack of experience”.

District Judge Greg McCourt imposed a £50 fine for failing to report a damage only accident, a £150 fine for criminal damage, a £200 fine and six penalty points for no insurance, a £40 fine for each charge of failing to stop at a damage only accident, failing to remain at a damage only accident, being an unaccompanied L driver and not displaying L plates.