A 27-year-old driver who refused to give a specimen of breath for analysis at Keynsham Police Centre has been banned from the road for 22 months.
Library image | Photo © Avon & Somerset Police
Prosecutor Sadie Waits told Bath magistrates that police had followed Sean Kellett from Brislington to Bath Hill in Keynsham and when they stopped him, he was unsteady on his feet and slurring his words.
Kellett, of Alexandra Park in Fishponds, gave a positive breath test at the roadside and was arrested and taken to the police centre in Ashmead Road where he refused to provide a specimen of breath for analysis.
At his court appearance on Wednesday 25th June, Kellett, of previous good character, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis on 3rd June.
Representing Kellett, solicitor Mark O’Donnell said he had mobility issues, which could have been the reason why he looked unsteady on his feet to the police.
Mr O’Donnell said that at the police centre, Kellett had a “very sensible discussion” about his options and knew he would be banned from driving. Kellett had told the police he had a drink problem and they had taken the “very unusual” step of bailing him on condition that he did not drive, which he had compiled with.
Magistrates fined Kellett, who works as a chef, £880 and ordered him to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a surcharge of £352.
He was told that if he completes a drink-drive rehabilitation course, it will reduce the length of his ban by 25%.
