Drunk man was sleeping in van

Philip Arthur Esler (45), of Cullybackey Road, was banned from driving for one month and fined 250 after admitting being drunk in charge of a vehicle.

The court was told that police who attended an address in Ballymena on May 8, found the defendant sleeping in the back of the van.

There was a set of keys in the ignition, while Esler also had a further set of keys.

Police observed a smell of alcohol and Esler later provided a breath specimen with a concentration of 94 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit is 35/100.

Solicitor Stephen McCann said Esler had been at his partner’s house where they had had a row.

The defendant’s partner had taken another set of keys off Esler in order to prevent him from driving, the solicitor added.