Man asleep in car refused to take breath test

Ryan Atkinson was then rude to police officers and would not take the required breathalyser tests.

Atkinson, a 23-year-old groundworker, of York Drive, Great Eccleston, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a breath specimen.

He was disqualified from driving for 38 months, fined £400 with £85 costs and ordered to pay a £40 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Presiding magistrate, Cliff Boynton, told him: “If you had driven in that state, the consequences could have been appalling.”

Pam Smith, prosecuting, said police were called to an incident at The Owd Nells restaurant pub, St Michaels Road, Bilsborrow, on December 19 in the early hours of the morning.

Atkinson was in a car on the pub car park, slumped over the steering wheel and smelling strongly of alcohol.

He was agitated and abusive and refused to provide a breath sample.

Allain Cobain, defending, said Atkinson and a colleague had gone to the works Christmas party at the pub and they had intended getting a taxi home together.

Party

Atkinson had no intention of driving and admitted having a considerable amount to drink during party.

At the end of the evening Atkinson was waiting in his car outside for his friend.

He fell asleep and when he was woken by police officers he was upset because as far as he was concerned he had done nothing wrong.