An Omagh based oil distributor who drove one of his lorries without a valid insurance and heavy goods vehicle licence has been fined a total of £800 and had eight penalty points endorsed on his licence.

Michael Francis Doherty (27) of Gortrush Industrial Estate previously had three points on his licence for a speeding offence and now has a total of 11 points, one short of a mandatory disqualification.

Omagh Magistrates Court was told Doherty received a call from an elderly lady in urgent need of oil on August 8 last year.

A defence solicitor said the defendant holds a licence and insurance to drive a car and had been 'foolish' to get behind the wheel of the lorry. He added that employees in the business had HGV licences and on this occasion Doherty was in a hurry to help the lady and a licenced driver actually jumped into the cab beside him as he left the yard.

The solicitor further stated the defendant's licence was essential to him as he travelled an estimated 20,000 miles a year in his business.