Armagh Courthouse
A Tandragee man has appeared in court after taking his father’s van without permission and crashing it whilst twice the legal limit.
Brandon Adamson, 23, of Ballybeg Park, appeared before Armagh Magistrates’ Court, sitting at Newry Courthouse on Tuesday.
He was charged with driving with excess alcohol in breath, failing to report an accident, driving without insurance, driving without a licence, aggravated vehicle taking and driving without due care and attention.
The court heard that in the evening of Monday, August 5, 2024, police received a report of a hit-and-run collision on Church Street in Tandragee.
A Citroen Berlingo van was found at the scene having struck a parked car – there was no one present at the vehicle.
Police conducted enquiries with the last registered owner of the vehicle and spoke to the father of Brandon Adamson.
Adamson accepted after caution that he had taken the vehicle without his father’s permission and crashed it. The father said he didn’t realise the vehicle was missing and the keys had been taken.
A strong smell of alcohol was noted from Adamson, who failed a preliminary breath test.
Checks on police systems ascertained that he had no driving licence or insurance to his name. He was then arrested for the offences before the court.
Adamson made no reply to caution and a lower evidential breath reading in custody returned a result of 97 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit in Northern Ireland is 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.
When Adamson sobered up he was interviewed and made full admissions to taking and crashing his van, stating it was “just stupid” and that he was “drunk”.
He admitted that he did not have a full licence or insurance but stated that he did have a learner’s licence.
The court heard that Adamson, who has no previous criminal record, “didn’t realise” he had collided with another vehicle, instead believing he had hit a wall.
Addressing the court, a defence lawyer said that while it was a “serious matter”, it was to Adamson’s credit that he made admissions to the offences.
He continued: “He’s very lucky to even be standing before this court. He’s very fortunate that he didn’t seriously hurt, or worse, another party.”
The defence added, referring to the pre-sentence report, that Adamson had a “very traumatic event” in his life a number of years ago that led this situation.
District Judge Anne Marshall said: “It was a very serious incident and I think you understand that now. You were well over twice the legal limit, you had no licence, you had no insurance.”
Judge Marshall imposed a probation order for nine months, alongside 40 hours of community service.
She also banned Adamson from driving for a period of 18 months.