Man jailed twice in two days for driving offences

Ryan McLaughlin, 29, of Bligh's Gardens in Londonderry, was sentenced for the second time in as many days at Bishop Street courthouse

A man who was jailed earlier this week for ramming a police vehicle has received a further prison sentence for separate driving offences.

Ryan McLaughlin, 29, of Bligh's Gardens in Londonderry, was handed an additional three-month sentence and a further 18-month driving ban on Friday for offences committed on 17 October 2024.

McLaughlin was jailed for two years at Londonderry Crown Court on Thursday after driving dangerously in the Shantallow area of Derry on 11 August 2024 and ramming a police vehicle.

Following his sentence on Friday, he will now spend a total of two years and three months in custody, along with a combined driving disqualification of 36 months.

Appearing at Londonderry Magistrates' Court on Friday, McLaughlin admitted dangerous driving, driving while unfit, failing to stop for police and other motoring offences.

The court was that police observed a vehicle being driven erratically in the city and moved to stop it on 17 October.

As police approached, the vehicle reversed at speed and they eventually had to make contact with it to prevent it from driving away.

The occupants of the vehicle fled and McLaughlin was detained a short distance away.

He told police during interview that he had flagged down the vehicle, believing it was being driven by a friend, but then discovered it was not.

He said he had not been driving the vehicle and claimed he had "blacked out" when police approached.

Defence counsel said that, at the time, McLaughlin had been using drugs and alcohol.

She said her client had "taken a realistic approach" and pleaded guilty to the offences.

District Judge Ted Magill said that McLaughlin had rammed a police car and added that it was "a wonder no one was seriously injured".

He imposed a consecutive sentence of three months and disqualified him from driving for 18 months.