A 27-year-old man has been disqualified from driving for 12 months after he was caught behind the wheel with nearly twice the legal alcohol limit in Lurgan.

Emmet McKerr, of Lurgan Tarry, pleaded guilty at Craigavon Magistrates Court to driving with excess alcohol and failing to display L plates.

The court heard that police were alerted to an ongoing fight on William Street on 30 May. CCTV footage showed a man involved in the disturbance getting into a white Mercedes C-Class.

Officers arrived and signalled the Mercedes to stop. People at the scene told police the driver had been drinking before driving.

A later breath test recorded 67 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, while the legal limit is 35 micrograms. Checks also revealed that McKerr was a learner driver and his car did not display L plates.

Defence solicitor Philip Reid said McKerr is a self-employed scaffolder, the sole earner for his partner and young child. He had planned to leave his car after a night out but an incident occurred. Mr Reid stated his client was not the aggressor and made a foolish decision to drive home.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan imposed a 12-month driving ban and a £250 fine, plus a £15 offender levy. A concurrent six-month ban and £100 fine were handed down for the L plate offence. The judge warned McKerr that his insurance costs would rise significantly.

McKerr was given 14 weeks to pay and can complete a drink-drive rehabilitation course to reduce the length of his ban.