COURTS: An 18-year-old who purchased a car for just €150, and then proceeded to drive recklessly at high speeds almost hitting two pedestrians – has avoided a custodial sentence.
Gavin Arbuckle, 18, with an address of Ballyboe, Convoy appeared at Letterkenny District Court in relation to the incident which occurred on April 9th of this year.
The court heard how the defendant drove at speeds of up to 130 miles per hour, causing two pedestrians to jump out of the way, forced two tractors onto a verge – and went into a spin of 360 degrees was given a six month suspended sentence.
Gardaí signalled Mr Arbuckle to pull over, but he attempted to speed away from them, when Gardaí tried to overtake the defendant he swerved dangerously over and back on the road to stop them.
District Court Judge Paul Kelly imposed a six month suspended sentence on Ardbuckle for this offence, suspended it for a year, on his own bond of €500.
Judge Kelly also imposed a number of conditions; that Ardbuckle complete the Pro Social Drving Course, to pay a contribution of €150 to the course and to remain under the supervision of the Probation Services for six months and to comply with all their directions.
Ardbuckle was disqualified for three years from driving for a charge of careless driving at Cloughan on the same occasion.
He was also sentenced, six months on the Cloughan offence, to run concurrently, with the same conditions attached.
The court heard that Ardbuckle had only bought the car that day for €150 and had only turned 18.
The Judge added the only reason that Ardbucble was not going into custody was due to his early pleas.