A Ballykelly man, who placed sign in the the middle of a public road which a car later crashed into, has been told by a judge that his behaviour was ‘appalling’.

Limavady Magistrates Court heard that police were called at 4.45am on June 13 last year after a car collided with a metal advertising sign which had been placed in the middle of the road at Irish Green Street in the town (pictured).

Officers were able to identify the defendant, Shane Crabtree, after making enquiries and viewing CCTV footage from the area.

When police spoke to the 20 year-old of Drummond Park, he said he couldn’t remember placing the sign on the road due to his level of intoxication.

The court was told that the cost to repair the car was £345, while the sign cost £192 to fix.

After hearing the facts of the case, District Judge Liam McNally said: “He went to a lot of trouble to get this sign and put it out on the road.  It’s selfishness, recklessness and appalling.”

Crabtree’s solicitor John Fahy agreed, saying: “It’s horseplay.  It is irresponsible and could have caused serious injury.”

During sentencing, Judge McNally told Crabtree that the offences he committed were serious and ones which merit a custodial sentence.

“You endangered other road users for no good reason,” added Judge McNally before sentencing Crabtree to four months in custody, suspended for three years.

He also ordered the defendant to pay compensation to the owners of the car and the sign.

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