Man with over 40 road traffic convictions despite never passing driving test, jailed for 16 months

A man who has amassed over 40 road traffic convictions despite never having passed a driving test, has been jailed for 16 months at Derry Crown Court.

Dylan Lockhart (27) from Beraghvale in the Skeoge Road area of the city pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance and driving while disqualified in the Glenabbey Close estate on March 13 of this year.

Prosecutor Michael McAleer told Judge Neil Rafferty KC that on that date several members of the public reported to the police that an Audi A4 was being driving dangerously in Glenabbey Close.

Some of those who reported the incident to the police were also able to name Lockhart as being the driver.

Members of a police mobile patrol responded to the reported sightings and they found the car parked outside a local Spar shop.

"It was parked nose in convenient to the entrance door of the shop and the defendant was observed inside accompanied by a female. The police parked directly behind the vehicle to block it and to prevent it from being driven. It was clear to the police that the defendant was aware of their presence and he exited the shop accompanied by the female who had the car keys", the barrister said.

Both Lockhart and the woman as well as the Audi were searched under the Misuse Of Drugs Act as a result of which the woman is being prosecuted on a separate charge.

"The defendant then accused the officer in charge of the case of police harassment and told her that he would see her in court", the prosecutor said.

"Whilst awaiting the arrival of additional police resources the defendant informed the officer in charge that he had been driving the car and he directed her to seize it. Relevant checks confirmed the defendant had been disqualified for 18 months just 32  days before this offending. After his arrest the defendant implied he was a safe driver as he'd never crashed a car during a chase", Mr. McAleer said.

He said after the car was seized it was examined by an authorised officer who found defects in the exhaust, brakes, suspension, mirrors and number plates.

Jailing Lockhart for 16 months Judge Rafferty told him that his "allegation that he was being harassed by the police is laughable. Quite frankly I would expect the local police to stop him every time they see him".

As well as being jailed Lockhart was also disqualified from driving for three years.