Crashed car had just three wheels, court was told

Joel Allen (18), of Corran Manor, Larne, has been banned from driving for a year and fined £200 after admitting charges of driving with excess alcohol in his breath and using a vehicle in a dangerous condition.

A prosecutor told Ballymena Magistrates Court that at 9.30pm on October 6 police received a report from a member of the public that there had been a road traffic collision on the A8 and a vehicle was blocking the Belfast-bound lane.

Allen was located a short distance away and admitted he had been driving and said a wheel came off as he was on a roundabout.

Police discovered the three remaining tyres had low tread and there were tinted windows on the vehicle.

Allen was found to have an alcohol/breath reading of 68, with the legal limit being 35.

The court heard that he told police he had earlier drank three to four pints and then had an alcopop.

A defence lawyer said the defendant had been out with friends that day.

District Judge Peter Magill told the defendant: “If you have drink at all, don’t go near a car.”

He said the defendant was very fortunate someone wasn’t badly hurt or worse in the incident.