A man who drove across a footpath and narrowly avoided hitting three pedestrians has been handed a suspended sentence.

It was heard at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday how police were in the Irvinestown area on July 8, 2022, when they observed an Audi A3 approach their car from Bridge Street before heading in the direction of Forthill Park.

The driver of the car – James Grainger (50), of Forthill Park, Irvinestown – turned the car and headed towards the police car.

Officers signalled for Grainger to stop; however, he continued to drive on, swerving and squeezing past the police car on to a grass area and footpath where there were three female pedestrians walking.

Police spoke to the females, who were shaken but uninjured, the court heard.

A check of the area and address by police failed to find Grainger, but he was arrested at a later time for having no insurance, driving whilst disqualified, and failing to stop.

Michael Fahy, Grainger's solicitor, told the court that this was hopefully the last time the defendant would appear as he had moved to London to remove himself from any negative peer association.

For having no insurance, driving whilst disqualified, failing to stop and driving without due care and attention, Grainger was handed a four-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and a two-year driving ban.