A DRIVER who failed to stop for police after being observed using his mobile phone later abandoned his van in an alley in Ederney, Fermanagh Magistrates Court has heard.

George Marshall (32), of Mantlin Cottage, Kesh, pleaded guilty to using a motor vehicle without insurance at Castlederg Road, Ederney, not having a driving licence, using a mobile phone while driving and failing to stop for police on December 4, 2016.

The court heard that, at 1.30pm, police on mobile patrol in the Ederney area observed the defendant using a mobile phone while driving a Citroen Berlingo van on Castlederg Road.

Officers activated their blue lights and sirens to bring Marshall to a halt, but he just drove on and turned off the main road.

His van was subsequently located in an alley in Ederney. The defendant had made off on foot.

Meanwhile, the vehicle was seized after a check confirmed that no insurance was in place.

Marshall returned around 30 minutes later and admitted the offences.

District judge, Amanda Brady, fined the defendant a total of £250, ordered him to pay a £15 offender levy and disqualified him from driving for six months.