Man moved car because youths were '˜jumping on it'

A Tyrone man who went to move his car a short distance because youths were 'jumping on top of it', has lost his licence for 12 months.

Clive Moore (43), of Lisnaclin Court, Dungannon, was also fined a total of £215 at Magherafelt Magistrates Court for driving while having consumed excess alcohol at Queen’s Avenue, Magherafelt, on July 24 this year.

A prosecuting lawyer told District Judge Alan White that at 2.15am police on mobile patrol saw a car surrounded by a number of youths talking to the driver.

He said the car was parked partly on the footpath and moved before coming to a stop on the roadway.

The barrister said police spoke to the defendant who appeared dazed, slightly suggestive that he was under the influence of alcohol.

Continuing, the lawyer said Moore failed a preliminary test at the side of the road and was then arrested and taken to the police station where he provided a reading which showed an alcoholic reading of 57 microgrammes in breath.

A defence lawyer explained Moore had earlier been drinking in a local bar and had gone to move his car because he had heard that a number of youths were jumping on top of it.

“He moved the car a very short distance before being stopped,” he stressed.

The barrister said defendant is employed as a driver and the loss of his licence would result in him losing his job. He added that Moore had battled a problem with alcohol in the past.