Crashed car after he had taken drugs

Christopher James Leitch, Edenderry Gardens, Banbridge, admitted driving while unfit through drink or drugs on November 1 last year.

He was fined £200, ordered to pay a £15 offender’s levy and banned from driving for 15 months.

A £100 fine was imposed for possession of a class C drug, Alprazolan, and for each of two offences of having a defective tyre he was fined £50.

The court heard that between 1.30am and 2am a single vehicle road traffic collision took place at Reilly Street in Banbridge.

A road sign at a traffic island had been knocked over.

There were two people in the area and the defendant admitted he was the driver.

Leitch was unsteady on his feet but passed a preliminary breath test.

Police suspected the involvement of drugs and a blood sample was taken which on analysis showed the presence of cannabis and another controlled drug, Alprazolan. There were also drugs found inside the car.

A solicitor representing the defendant said he accepted taking drugs before getting into the vehicle.

He explained his client was a recovering alcoholic and had done well over the last ten to 12 years.

The solicitor added that Leitch had only driven a short distance but accepted he was responsible for the collision and was under the influence of drugs.

District Judge Liam McNally said it was a bad piece of driving and under the influence of drugs the defendant had lost control of the vehicle.