Police who followed a vehicle up to a shed after checks showed there was no insurance policy on it found that the driver was also disqualified from driving.

On January 7, police were on mobile patrol of Mantlin Road, Kesh at around 6pm when they observed a Ford Ranger travelling in the direction of the village.

Checks showed there was no valid insurance, and while police followed the vehicle it turned off Mantlin Road into a private lane and up to a shed.

Bodyworn cameras were activated, and Neil Armstrong (38), of Ardess Demesne, Kesh, got out of the car. It was established he was a disqualified driver.

Armstrong was arrested and became very irate. He refused to come with police to their vehicle, pushing and shoving at the officers.

He was then cautioned before replying: "I'll get into the back of the car – get this f***er out of my face."

Armstrong admitted, during an interview with police, that he was disqualified from driving.

His barrister, Ciaran Roddy, admitted it was a difficult plea to make in mitigation as his client was in breach of a court order banning him from driving as well as a suspended sentence.

He said there were no aggravating features to the driving; however, the act of resisting police was an aggravating feature, but he said the resisting was "quite shortlived".

Continuing, Mr. Roddy said Armstrong appeared to be "acting out of frustration" but could only be frustrated with himself. He described Armstrong as his own worst enemy.

With Armstrong being a mechanic, Mr. Roddy told the court that the car he was driving had an issue, and the defendant had taken it for a drive to "get a feel for it".

With a probation order and suspended sentence over him, Mr. Roddy said his client's court appearance was "counter-intuitive".

Mr. Roddy asked the court to take into account that there was no adverse incident on the road, and that Armstrong took full responsibility for acting in a way he should not have done.

District Judge Steven Keown took into account Armstrong's plea even though he was caught red-handed, but he said resisting police showed a blatant disregard for the disqualification and suspended sentence.

Judge Keown said if they were to have any meaning, they would need to be put into operation.

Activating the suspended sentence as well as imposing further prison time, Armstrong received a six-month prison sentence and a 12-month driving ban for driving while disqualified, using a motor vehicle without insurance and resisting police.

He was released on bail pending appeal.