A suspected drink driver who refused to do a breath test twice in one month told police: "I know I'm more than twice the limit."
Michael Stainbank was first reported to police on December 14 last year after threatening to jump off the Northern Spire Bridge in Sunderland.
The 31-year-old then came to police attention again less than a month later, when he was seen running a red light and refused to be breathalysed for a second time.
He has now been banned from the roads for three years after pleading guilty to two counts of failing to provide a specimen.
South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard that on December 14 police received a report of a man threatening to jump off the Northern Spire Bridge.
Prosecutor Kirsty Devine said when officers arrived, the car had already left.
They traced Stainbank to his home address and found the car "abandoned outside".
Ms Devine said: "They knocked on the door and the defendant appeared intoxicated, his speech was slurred and his eyes were dilated.
"He refused to provide a specimen, saying, 'I'm not bothered'."
Stainbank then landed himself in trouble again with police on January 12 this year when police received reports of a drunk driver in a Nissan Qashqai at around 3.20am.
Ms Devine said police identified the vehicle, which had reportedly run a red light and stopped it.
She told the court: "Again, the defendant had slurred speech and dilated eyes. He was arrested but refused to provide a specimen.
"He said: 'I once saw someone who failed to provide a specimen who got less than if they blew and it was twice the limit, and I know I'm more than twice the limit'."
Representing himself in court, Stainbank said: "I'm obviously really sorry, it was a bad decision taken by myself.
"I was going through a tough couple of months, and it's wrong what I've done.
"Everything was getting on top of us."
District judge Kate Meek sentenced Stainbank, of Warkworth Crescent, Seaham, County Durham, to an 18 month community order with 25 days of rehabilitation work and 240 hours of unpaid work.
She also banned him from driving from three years, saying, "This is very serious, two very deliberate refusals and your driving was significantly impaired as a result of your consumption of alcohol."
The defendant was also ordered to pay a £95 surcharge and £85 court costs.
