A JUDGE said today it was "unbelievable" that a pensioner had managed to escape going to jail despite having a string of convictions for drink driving and driving while banned.
Having heard that 75-year-old Lawrence Murdock had not re-offended since he deferred passing sentence a year ago, District Judge Mark Hamill said he would do as promised and impose a five month jail sentence but suspended for three years.
Murdock, from the Moss Road in Drumbo, will have to reach 90-years-old as the judge also banned from driving for 15 years after revealing the pensioner has eight previous convictions for driving while disqualified and nine for drink driving.
"Your driving career is over, get that into your head," declared the judge addressing Murdock at Newtownards Magistrates Court adding that "I cannot quite grasp how you have avoided prison but I can absolutely assure you that if you come back for driving offences you will not escape prison."
At an earlier hearing Murdock had pleaded guilty to driving while banned, driving without insurance and obstructing a constable on June 16 last year.
A prosecuting lawyer told the court how police stopped and spoke to the driver of a Mercedes car on the Upper Knockbreda Road in Belfast but that checks revealed the driving had given false details and that he was in fact Murdock who was a disqualified driver.
When that was put to him the pensioner made full admissions.
Defence solicitor Mark Campbell confirmed that Murdock had been banned from the roads for 12 years in 2005 but since his last offence in 2011 had not offended for the past six years.
He said the offending stemmed from an alcohol problem Murdock developed following the break down of his marriage.
Imposing the suspended sentence, driving ban and fining Murdock £250, the judge told the pensioner he had an "appalling" record which meant "you will have to win the lottery to get an insurance quote."
