Father-of-four tried to avoid drink-drive test

A father-of-four who had been drinking knew he was over the limit but thought he might get away with it if he did not take a test, a court was told.
By The Newsroom
Published 6th Nov 2013, 05:00 BST
Blackpool PoliceBlackpool Police
Blackpool Police

Mark McGreevy could not take a breath test because he had the medical condition asthma, nor a blood test because of his fear of needles, but he then failed to give a urine specimen to test.

McGreevy, a 34-year-old landscape gardener, of Walter Avenue, St Annes, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a sample for alcohol testing.

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He was banned from the road for 28 months and fined £250 with £200 costs plus £25 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Presiding magistrate, Simon Bridge, said: “Failing to provide is a way of trying to avoid justice and we are not having that.”

Pam Smith, prosecuting, said police received information a car had crashed on North Houses Lane, St Annes, and the driver was staggering all over the road on June 22 about 8pm.

Officers found McGreevy staggering on and off the grass verge. He said he had been driving home from Ansdell Institute and his car break down. Police believed McGreevy’s Vauxhall had failed to negotiate a bend, mounted the verge and the impact blew out a tyre and the engine.

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McGreevy said: “In my panic I though I might get away with it if I did not provide. It has been a lesson learnt.”

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