A Co Down man has been fined and given penalty points after his vehicle's dangerously worn tyres contributed to a collision with a lamppost.

John Ryan Potts (31) of Pine View Court, Gilford, pleaded guilty at Banbridge Magistrates Court to using a vehicle in a dangerous condition and displaying an incorrect registration plate.

On 7 December 2025, police responded to a report of a crash at the Hill Street and High Street junction in Gilford. They found a damaged Nissan Skyline and spoke to Potts, who identified himself as the driver. A roadside breath test returned a zero reading.

The car was seized and later examined by an authorised officer on 7 January 2026. The officer found the rear tyres were in such poor condition that they posed an imminent blowout danger to the public. The registration plate did not meet UK specifications.

Potts admitted the tyre condition contributed to the accident. His defence said the plate irregularity was a matter of lettering size rather than an attempt to deceive. He had not inspected the tyres but cooperated fully with police.

He was fined £150 with a £15 offender levy and three penalty points for the dangerous condition charge, plus a further £100 for the registration plate offence. He was given 12 weeks to pay the total.