Bad day gets worse for man who lost patience with police and refused a fixed penalty because he had to get home to heat pizzas

A man refused a fixed penalty for speeding from police because he was in a rush to get home to heat pizzas, Derry Magistrates Court was told today.

Dylan Robb (30), of Ballyskeagh Road, Artigarvan, Strabane was charged with driving with excessive speed over the Foyle Bridge on July 19.

The court heard Robb, who failed to appear in court, had nine active penalty points on his licence and relevant convictions for driving without a seatbelt and excess speed.

A prosecutor told he had been driving over the bridge at 75mph in what was a 50mph zone.

The court was told when stopped and spoken to by police, he refused a fixed penalty.

Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley told the court when stopped, Robb told police: "Hurry up, I have two pizzas to heat up and children to get home to."

He added he was “having a rubbish day and don’'t need this.”

Making a case for his client, Mr Quigley said it was late at night, “the kids had been playing up” and the defendant had bought them pizza to “cheer them up.”

Mr Quigley told District Judge Barney McElholm Robb had been having “a bad day” and asked him “not to add to that'.

Pointing out Robb had received two fixed penalties at the start of the year and knew he was sitting on nine penalty points, Judge McElholm banned him from driving for two months and fined him £200.