A Toome man has been disqualified from driving for 14 months after admitting to driving with excess alcohol in his breath.

Eunan Toal, 28, of Carlane Road, was also fined £250 and ordered to pay a £15 offender's levy at Magherafelt Magistrates' Court.

Police received a report about a suspected drink driver on the A6 at Castledawson shortly before 1am on August 23. Officers located the vehicle at Castledawson Park and Ride and stopped it after observing it swerving.

When speaking to Toal, officers noticed a smell of intoxicating liquor. A breath test showed an alcohol count of 71 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath, more than double the legal limit of 35 microgrammes.

Defence solicitor Stephen Atherton said Toal had been socialising in Magherafelt and had not planned to drive, but could not get a taxi and made a foolish decision to drive a short distance home.

Mr Atherton said Toal is a father of two and works as a spray painter, and a driving ban could affect his business.

District Judge Conor Heaney noted that Toal had no previous record for this type of offence.