Court hears police found crashed vehicle with blood stains inside and tracked defendant to his nearby home

Police tracked down a drink-driver who had crashed his car after discovering a blood-stained note inside his vehicle with his name on it.

John Hendron, of Barr Cregg in Claudy, pleaded guilty to charges of driving with excess alcohol in breath, driving without due care and attention, and failing to report a damage only accident on February 2, 2017.

The court heard that around 9.30am on the date in question a single vehicle crash occurred on the Glenshane Road.

When police arrived the driver, Hendron, was not in the area, but a red Volkswagen belonging to him was at the scene.

The PSNI were told that the driver had made his way back to Claudy, where shops were searched to find him.

When officers searched the vehicle, blood stains were discovered on a deployed airbag.

A piece of paper containing his name was also found with blood stains on it.

Police called to the defendant’s address where they noticed more blood on his door handle, and as they moved further into the house Hendron was found in bed with blood on his hands.

A Public Prosecutor said the 54-year-old ‘denied involvement’, however, when he was later interviewed he made admissions and told officers he had been drinking the previous evening.

He said: “I panicked and just wanted it to go away.”

A defence barrister told the court that his client got news from his wife that her ill father had died at hospital.

He said Hendron had consumed one or two drinks at home but, given the circumstances, decided to drive.

Defence counsel said the 54-year-old initially denied involvement but attended the police station the next day ‘to say he had been driving, and fully admitted involvement’.

The defendant has been driving for thirty-seven years ‘with no record at all’, and his defence barrister asked for him to be given credit for the way he dealt with it.

District Judge Barney McElholm disqualified Hendron from driving for twelve months, which will be reduced to nine months if he successfully completes the drink driving course.

He was also fined £500, which he has twelve weeks to pay.