A 23-year-old driver’s “act of bravado” in performing a handbrake turn in a car park has cost him £300 and the loss of his licence for 12 months.

Jamie White, of Ashgrove, Derrychara, Enniskillen, denied that his driving was dangerous but was convicted of the offence.

He was granted bail of £500 and permission to drive pending the outcome of an appeal against the conviction.

Fermanagh Court heard that at approximately 10.50pm on December 12, last year, a police officer saw White driving a Vauxhall Corsa in the Quay Lane Car Park in Enniskillen. White took off with the engine revving, wheels spinning and smoke coming from the vehicle before making a handbrake turn through 90 degrees, approximately three yards from a parked car with people in it.

A prosecutor submitted that the standard of White’s driving fell “well below” that of a careful and competent driver and was dangerous.

Defence barrister Heather Philips submitted that the line between careless and dangerous driving can be blurred. White accepted there were other vehicles in the car park but there were no pedestrians.

District Judge Nigel Broderick asked: “Why was he doing this manoeuvre, a handbrake turn at speed in a public car park? What age is he now?

“Were there any friends or lookers-on” or was it “just an act of bravado to show how proficient he is at spinning his car around in a car park” he wondered.

Miss Philips said there were other young men in the car park doing manoeuvres and this was a 90 degree turn conducted in a split second where there was no impact and no pedestrians present.

She described it as “clearly a misjudgement”.

The District Judge asked her: “Was it a misjudgement? Surely it was a deliberate act?” Miss Philips explained that White’s decision to do it was a misjudgement.

The District Judge said it was not without significance that in his view this was a deliberate act.

He told the court there was no justification for White’s speed over a short distance and the handbrake turn with a vehicle very close by with people in it.

“Anyone who drives in this manner puts themselves and other road users at risk,” he stated, adding that he was satisfied White was guilty of dangerous driving.

Miss Philips said White works in Modern Tyres and the conviction is obviously going to have an effect on him.