Man with 270 convictions jailed for driving offence at Derry court

Damian Gibbons (50) of Rosses Gate in Derry was sentenced for driving while disqualified, no insurance and obstructing police on July 23 last year.

The court heard a police patrol observed a car in the Bond's Hill area of the city and one of the officers, who the court heard had been familiar with the driver, Gibbons, for 'two decades', recognised him and knew he was a disqualified driver.

Police followed the vehicle. When it stopped, Gibbons alighted before looking back at police and then making off.

Fingerprints were found on the vehicle and it was also ascertained that the registration had been 'cloned', in that if it was checked it showed a completely different owner. In this case it was registered to a woman.

Judge Roseanne McCormick KC said that this defendant had 'an extensive record' and the particular disqualification resulted from a police pursuit in December 2024.

The judge said that according to Gibbons his first involvement with drugs came when he was aged 7.

She said aggravating features including the case were that he had driven a short time after being disqualified and the fact the vehicle registration was cloned.

Describing this as 'highly culpable offending', the judge said it was harmful to the community and 'highly distressing' to the true vehicle owner.

Gibbons was sentenced to 15 months in prison, with half to be served in custody and half on licence.

He was disqualified from driving for 4 years and fined £200.