Learner driver fled across the border to escape police

A LEARNER driver from Sion Mills has been fined after he fled over the Donegal border during a police stop.

Paul Anthony Rodgers (28), of Ulster Cottages, was flagged down by police using their blue lights and siren on the Lifford Road in Strabane on September 14.

While driving unaccompanied, he initially stopped his BMW, but as officers attempted to exit their vehicle, Rodgers accelerated away from the scene at speed across the border into Donegal.

Strabane Magistrates heard on Thursday that police were able to identify the vehicle was registered to Rodgers.

On October 19 police spotted the defendant in a taxi which they stopped and cautioned him for the previous month’s offences. Rodgers agreed to take part in a voluntary interview where he made full admission to all of the traffic offences.

Rodgers was charged with failing to display L plates, failing to stop for police, and driving unaccompanied as a learner driver.

His defence counsel told the court, “He has saved up to buy this vehicle and now he must pay the price for these offences.”

Notwithstanding the failure to stop, the defence appealed to the judge to give Rodgers credit for his full admission to the offences.

Acting deputy district judge Philip Mateer said, “He clearly didn’t want to be processed by the police because he had no full license. He took the opportunity of the border to evade the police.”

The judge issued Rodgers with a £250 fine for failing to stop, a £50 fine for not displaying L plates and a further £100 for driving unaccompanied. He also had penalty points endorsed on his license.