Porsche driver over the limit ‘the morning after the night before’

A NEWTOWNSTEWART man who was driving when intoxicated, claimed it was caused by drinking alcohol the previous night.

Adrian Surplas (43), of Drumlegagh Church Road, was disqualified from driving for 16 months and fined £300 when he appeared before Omagh Magistrates Court. He was detected while driving on the Tattyreagh Road, Fintona, on November 11.

The court was told police officers on mobile patrol observed a Porsche 100 metres ahead, which held its speed. It crossed the middle of the road for no apparent reason, and when the police got closer to note the registration number, it slowed to 40 miles per hour.

On being stopped, Surplas got out of the car, and was unsteady on his feet and his speech was slurred. He provided an evidential breath sample that recorded a reading of 90 micrograms, 55mgs in excess of the legal limit. Defence solicitor, John MacManus, told the court Surplas, who is self-employed, would be facing significant personal financial consequences. He suggested it was “the morning after the night before” when he was detected. Mr MacManus added, “There was no other person inconvenienced by the driving and he cooperated fully with police. The enormity of what happened befell him at the scene, and the station where he became emotional, but not in any way that caused him to resist police.”

The district judge gave Surplas credit for admitting the offence at the earliest opportunity. Describing the reading as high, the judge also noted that the defendant had a previous conviction for being in charge of a vehicle while over the alcohol limit.