Notts man argued with police and refused to give a breath test when he was pulled over for speeding

Luke France was spotted speeding through the Arnold area of Nottingham by officers on June 10 last year, Nottingham Magistrates’ Court was told on Tuesday, January 19.

The 23-year-old, of Occupation Lane, Edwinstowe, three times refused to give a breath test when he was pulled over, but later co-operated and gave to specimens at the police station following his arrest.

Prosecuting, Emma Wakefield told the court: “At about 9pm officers were in the Arnold area as part of a planned operation. They happened to be in the carpark of the Greyhound pub and they saw a vehicle driving at a very high speed - 50 to 60 miles per hour in a 30 zone.

“It slowed right down when the driver saw the police following and it stopped on a residential driveway. He was asked if he had been drinking and he said that he had not, but he smelled strongly of alcohol and so did the inside of the vehicle.

“He became argumentative and said that he had not been speeding and questioned why they had stopped him.

“He refused to give a breath test, and then refused a second time. He was asked a third time and he refused again, and even the passengers in the vehicle were telling him to give a sample.

“He was arrested and taken into custody where he gave two readings.”

When tested, France, who admitted drink driving, blew 56mg of alcohol to 100ml of breath, when the legal limit is 35mg.

His defence lawyer said that he had acted out of naivety and didn’t realise the full implications of refusing to give a breath test.

Magistrates banned him from driving for 14 months, but offered him a drink drive rehabilitation course, which would reduce the disqualification by 106 days if completed by October 1 this year.

He was also fined £392 and ordered to pay £85 in prosecution costs and a £32 victim surcharge.

Magistrates told him: “It’s always beneficial to cooperate with the police because they do have quite draconian powers.”

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