Man threatened to throw himself in river after argument

The case of Steven Nicholl came before North Antrim Magistrates’ Court last Wednesday.

Nicholl (33) of Braemar, was charged with drink driving on September 19 last year.

Court heard that the defendant had been drinking with his wife in the family home at Braemar.

The pair had an argument and as a result, Nicholl got into his work van, and drove it to the end of Braemar onto Pates Lane.

Police were called, and they found Nicholl at the edge of the River Bann, threatening to throw himself in.

He was arrested under the Mental Health Act, and later re-arrested for driving with alcohol in his breath.

Solicitor, Rhonda Boyd, told the court that her client had only driven his van a short distance.

She said that he had been in a ‘low mood’ and had brought the van back into his driveway when he realised he should not have been driving.

Ms Boyd described Nicholl as ‘possibly suicidal’ at the time of the incident, and added that no other vehicles or members of the public had been put in danger because of his actions.

Deputy District Judge Boyle fined Nicholl 300 and disqualified him from driving for a year.