A man who was found by police trying to start a van on the side of the road in the early hours of the morning has been given a prison sentence.

At 5.45am on November 19, 2019, police were tasked to the Killadeas Road, Lisnarick after reports of two males attempting to start a van, with concerns they were intoxicated.

Police located a Ford Transit van, in which Andrew Paul Fisher (24), of Hudson Heights, Irvinestown, was in the driver's seat, revving the engine. The other male was in the passenger's seat.

The court heard Fisher's speech was slurred, and when he got out of the van he was unsteady on his feet. He pupils were also dilated.

He was arrested and cautioned, to which he made no reply, and was taken to Omagh Police Station.

During this time, Fisher's responsiveness deteriorated and he was taken to the South West Acute Hospital.

Later on, the owner of the Transit rang police to say his business had been burgled.

CCTV footage showed a male entering the office of the business by breaking a window before taking the keys to the van and driving away.

Fisher was interviewed on November 20, and denied driving the van. He said he had taken a lift with a male known to him, and they drove to Lisnarick, where they were found.

He refused to identify the male, and he denied involvement in the burglary and theft at the business.

Fisher's barrister, Stephen Fitzpatrick, said his client's record does him no credit, and this was his second road traffic offence – the first of which he received a suspended sentence for.

He asked the court to take into account the passage of time since the offence occurred.

However, Deputy District Judge John Connolly said Fisher "takes no heed of the court whatsoever".

Mr. Fitzpatrick said Fisher acknowledged he had serious issues with drugs, and he only comes before the court when drugs have been taken.

He also asked the court to take into account Fisher's plea at the first opportunity when the set of facts were agreed, and said there were issues which needed to be addressed.

Fisher was convicted of using a motor vehicle without insurance, no driving licence, driving when unfit through drink/drugs, and taking a motor vehicle without authority.

Judge Connolly activated Fisher's suspended sentence, and reduced it to three months.

He also sentenced Fisher to three months in prison to run concurrently, disqualified him from driving for 12 months, and handed down a 12-months conditional discharge.