Spun car and drove at speed

After completing two 360 degree spins in the middle of the road a 22-year-old man drove off at speed with the back of the car swinging into the oncoming lane.

Alan McKinstry, Greenhill Road, Katesbridge, admitted dangerous driving on the Ballygowan Road, Banbridge, on November 21 last year.

He was fined £250, disqualified for 12 months and ordered to pay a £15 offender’s levy last Thursday at Banbridge Magistrates Court.

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A prosecutor said that a witness saw McKinstry, driving a BMW, do two 360 degree spins in the middle of the road.

He then moved off at speed with the back of the car swinging out into the other lane of the road. He drove over the brow of a hill and if there had been oncoming traffic there would have been a collision.

A solicitor representing McKinstry who was employed as a mechanic said that he understood he was going to be banned. He added that he was heavily reliant on his licence and his job was in jeopardy.

The solicitor said that it was a BMW car and his client had accelerated quite hard to cause it to go round. McKinstry had been driving for five years and had no record or points.

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District Judge, Mr Paul Copeland, said he would keep the disqualification to the statutory minimum of 12 months given the defendant’s clear record.

He added that this had been a ‘moment of extreme foolishness’ and McKinstry had driven in such a way if he had gone out of control there would have been a risk to members of the public.

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