The father-of-three has previously been banned from driving on multiple occasions
A 35-year old Lisburn man who has been banned from driving on multiple occasions was jailed today (Friday) for motoring offences.
Paul Fitzsimmons was handed a 14-month sentence by Judge Patricia Smyth who divided the term equally between prison and licence.
The father-of-three, from Woodbrook Manor, was also disqualified from driving for two years.
Belfast Crown Court heard that around 3.10pm on February 12 of this year, police observed a blue BMW travelling on the Stewartstown Road in Belfast.
The BMW came to a stop at the Dairy Farm Shopping Centre and Fitzsimmons was observed as the driver.
He was spoken to and the police system revealed he was the subject of five active driving disqualifications, the most recent having been issued in February 2024.
It also emerged that vehicle was his partner’s and that she hadn’t given him permission to drive it.
Fitzsimmons subsequently pleaded guilty to driving whilst disqualified and taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent.
The Belfast Recorder said she had read a medical report which outlined how Fitzsimmons met the diagnosis for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a consequences of tragic life events.
This included the amputation of one of Fitzsimmons’ legs in his teens as a result of him taking a car and losing control of it.
Judge Smyth said she also received an email from Extern which set out Fitzsimmons “continued motivation” regarding rehabilitation as well as community work he has undertaken and programmes he has completed.
Noting Fitzsimmons has 99 previous convictions, 66 of which were for motoring offences, the Judge added: “Your offending is persistent and you have demonstrated a sustained disregard for court orders.
“You have demonstrated no regard whatsoever for the law or the safety of the public.”
Saying “I would failing in my duty if I did not impose an immediate custodial sentence”, Judge Smyth sent Fitzsimmons to jail for seven months.
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