Drink driver gave police ‘middle finger’

AN Omagh man has been disqualified from driving after he got behind the wheel while intoxicated.

Dylan Hempton (23), of Carrigans Road, was said by his solicitor to be “very ashamed” for his actions, when his case was heard at Strabane Magistrates Court on Thursday.

The court was told that, on March 16, police carrying out patrols in the Newtownstewart area noticed a Toyota Landcruiser move onto Main Street where it stopped.

As officers went to speak to the driver, the vehicle moved off and, as it passed by, the driver – Hempton – rolled his window down, began shouting at the officers and gave them ‘the middle finger’.

Police pursued Hempton and noted that the Landcruiser swerved across the white lines on the road.

After he was eventually stopped, the defendant was arrested and taken to Strabane, where an evidential reading showed he was in excess of the drink-driving limit.

Representing Hempton in court, solicitor, Michael Fahy said his client had a “strong work ethic” and that he had been working late on the evening in question.

He noted that that Hempton had no previous convictions nor even endorsements on his licence and he said the Omagh man apologised to the court.

District Judge Alana McSorley commented, “He comes before the court with a clear record… however I can’t get past the reading… (which is) extremely high.”

She then handed Hempton a 15-month driving ban and fined him £250.