A car stopped by police in Tamlaght in the early hours of November 13, 2022, was being driven by a disqualified driver just 11 days after he received his disqualification.

At around 1.35am on the day in question, police were on mobile patrol of the Belfast Road in Enniskillen when they observed a Volkswagen Sirocco travelling towards Tamlaght, where it pulled in at bus stop, Enniskillen Magistrates Court heard on Monday.

Police approached the car and spoke to the driver – Arturs Petrusevics (37), of College Park Lane, Enniskillen – who confirmed to them he was disqualified from driving, the court heard.

There was also a smell of alcohol, and his eyes were glazed, and he failed a preliminary breath test.

He was arrested and in custody he gave an evidential reading of 91mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

The court heard that in custody, a metal baton was discovered on Petrusevics.

Petrusevics told police he had been drinking through March 12 and was feeling depressed, so he decided to get into his car and listen to music, as this helped him to relax. He then decided to drive, as this also made him relax.

In relation to the baton, he said he had been bitten by a dog and bought it to protect himself. He said he took it with him when he walked his dog and had forgotten about it.

His barrister, Ciaran Roddy, said that if it was not bad enough that Petrusevics had driven 11 days after his disqualification by the court, he done so under the influence of alcohol, and in possession of an item he should not have had.

He said his client had "put his liberty on the backfoot".

Mr. Roddy said Petrusevics was "reckless" to drive and thankfully nobody came to harm as a result. He also added that, referring to the baton, there was no evidence of a planned confrontation.

He asked the court to give Petrusevics a sentence which would act as a "sharp incentive" not to come back before court again.

District Judge Alana McSorley said the fact Petrusevics drove 11 days after a driving ban was imposed without insurance, and under the influence of alcohol, was a "very serious matter indeed" along with the possession of an offensive weapon.

However, Judge McSorley took into account Petrusevics' limited criminal record, and that he provided support for his daughter, and the judge stayed her hand on imprisonment.

For driving while disqualified, driving with excess alcohol, using a motor vehicle without insurance and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place, Petrusevics was given a three-month sentence, suspended for one year, and a two-year driving disqualification.