A MOTORIST who crashed his car then refused to provide a breath sample at the police station has been banned from the roads for three years.

Police from the Civil Nuclear Constabulary came across a vehicle that had been in a collision near Boonwood Garden Centre at Gosforth at 1.35am on December 2.

Prosecutor Pamela Fee told Workington Magistrates’ Court that the car had hit the kerb and the front left wheel was hanging off.

Police then arrived on the scene and the driver, Ross Laird, 40, was breathalysed. He gave a roadside reading of 126mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Laird was taken to the police station but failed to comply with the procedure there. He was described as being “very loud”, being unsteady on his feet and having slurred speech.

The defendant told the officer who was outlining the procedure to him to “shut up”.

When asked if there was any reason why he couldn’t provide a sample of breath, Laird replied, “yes, I’m an absolute psychopath.”

Ms Fee said it was a deliberate refusal to comply with the procedure.

Sean Harkin, defending, said: “It’s totally out of character and something he will not be repeating, going forward. He has learned his lesson.

“He has pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. He understands he is going to lose his licence.

“He lives in Scotland but works as a contractor at Sellafield. He will be reliant on public transport.”

Laird, of Melrose Place, Blantyre, Glasgow, pleaded admitted failing to provide specimen for analysis at a hearing last month. He was sentenced for the offence yesterday (January 16).

Magistrates banned Laird from driving for 36 months. He was given a community order with 200 hours of unpaid work.

He must also pay £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.

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