A drink driver from Ballymena assaulted two police officers after crashing his car while under the influence of alcohol.
 

In the early hours of July 13th, police officers found Mr Stewart Hillis in the driver seat of his crashed Renault Clio. Both Hillis’ car and a central traffic island had sustained heavy damage in the incident.

 

The 43-year-old, from Sandmount Road, Galgorm, Co. Antrim, refused to give any personal details to the police and failed to provide a sample of breath. The officers present noted that Hillis smelled strongly of alcohol.

 

Hillis was highly aggravated when the police placed him in a van cell. He assaulted police officers Nelson and Wootton, kicking one “across the back of the legs”.

 

At the North Antrim Magistrates’ Court, sitting in Coleraine [on 16th October], Hillis pled guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol and assaulting both police officers.

 

Defence solicitor Stewart Ballentine stated that the incident “has been a wakeup call” for Hillis, who asked Ballentine to apologise to the officers involved.

 

Hillis has now started attending Alcoholics Anonymous and has begun working as a dishwasher in Broughshane.

 

District Judge Peter King sentenced Hillis to a total of 20-months disqualification from driving. Hillis was also sentenced to 120-hours of community service, as a direct alternative to custody.

 

The judge imposed no financial penalties, however expressed that the offence was “disgraceful, inexplicable and incredibly dangerous behaviour”.

 

Judge King concluded with a warning to Hillis: “If there is any suggestion of you driving while disqualified, you will go to prison.”