A DRIVER who smelled of alcohol and was unsteady on his feet has been banned from driving and fined after he refused to give a breath sample to police.
A DRIVER who smelled of alcohol and was unsteady on his feet has been banned from driving and fined after he refused to give a breath sample to police.
Clence Masore, 25, was pulled over by police after he nearly collided with them when he drove the wrong way down a one-way street near to Ipswich police station.
The Group 4 Securicor worker pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis.
As revealed in later editions of yesterday's Evening Star, Masore was one of 139 people who failed breath tests in the county between December 1 and 31.
More than 2,000 motorists were tested during Suffolk police's Christmas crackdown against drink drivers, with 6.4 per cent found to be above the legal limit.
Masore had been driving along Princes Street at about 1.40am on December 27 when the officers turned into the street from Elm Street.
When they did so they saw Masore's black Mazda car approaching them down the one-way street.
Prosecutor John Hardwick told South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court yesterday that Masore, who had three people in the car with him, did not seem to react to the oncoming car.
Mr Hardwick said when Masore spoke to the officers he was “unsteady on his feet and smelled of liquor”.
When officers asked him to provide a breath sample Masore, of South Street, Colchester, refused and became offensive. He was arrested and taken to Ipswich police station where he again refused to provide a sample of breath for analysis.
Mr Hardwick said officers witnessed him mumbling his words and repeating: “I don't have to do anything.”
During the court hearing Masore apologised to the magistrates and pleaded with them not to ban him. He said: “What I did was wrong, I apologise.
“If I'm disqualified I won't be able to do my job.”
Magistrate Vicki Sears, chairman of the bench, disqualified Masore from driving for 24 months and endorsed his licence.
He was also fined £300 and ordered to pay £34 court costs.
He was offered a driver rehabilitation course which, once completed, would see his driving ban reduced by six months.
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