Over limit as he took mother to work

Tomasz Stoklosa (25), of Lakeview Court, Craigavon, was stopped by police on the Northway on July 2 just before 6am. He had been out drinking the night before.

A lawyer for the Prosecution Service said Stoklosa’s driving was erratic and that he was crossing the white lines on the carriageway. Police followed the car to the M12 where they spoke to the defendant, and noted that he smelt of alcohol and his eyes were glazed.

Stoklosa failed a preliminary breath test and a blood test revealed 91mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath (the legal limit is 80mg)

The defendant admitted his guilt when he was charged saying, “I know I was driving the car under the influence of alcohol”.

A defence lawyer said that Stoklosa, a Polish national, had been out the night before and had consumed a large amount of alcohol. Said the solicitor, “He went home to sleep it off and had no intention of driving. But his mother was called into work as an emergency and he offered to drive her there.”

District Judge Alan White noted that Stoklosa was just over the limit and it was a ‘morning after the night before’ incident. He fined him 200 and disqualified him from driving for 12 months, with a three month reduction if he completes the drink drive course. He will also have to sit the driving test again.