Police coming to the assistance of a man changing a flat tyre has resulted in a driving disqualification for drink driving.

At around 5.05am on April 24, 2022, police on patrol observed an Audi A4 on the Cornagrade Road with a man beside it.

The engine was running, lights were on and the car had a flat tyre with Aaron Jude (31), of Derrin Road, Enniskillen attempting to change it.

Police stopped to offer help and noticed a smell of intoxicating liquor.

Jude then failed a preliminary breath test before giving an evidential reading of 63mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

During an interview with police, Jude made full admissions that he was driving, got the flat tyre and he had been intending on driving home.

Garry Smyth, Jude’s solicitor, told Enniskillen Magistrates Court that his client, who works in the hospitality industry, had went for drinks with colleagues after work.

A combination of lack of sleep and little to eat, Mr. Smyth continued, may have exacerbated the situation.

He said Jude had co-operated fully with police and had initially been charged with being in charge of the vehicle but admission in interview changed it to driving with excess alcohol.

Mr. Smyth said Jude, a father of four, travelled 40 miles to work, a job that was in jeopardy due to this incident.

District Judge Steven Keown questioned why when there is so much to lose, why people drink drive?

Mr. Smyth added that Jude was aware of the stark situation and the consequences from it and asked the court to give him credit for his early plea, co-operation and personal circumstances.

Taking into account, a previous conviction for a similar offence over 10 years ago alongside his early plea and character references, Judge Keown felt the appropriate disqualification from driving for Jude was 16 months along side a £250 fine.