A suspected drink-driver refused to provide a blood sample in a police station by claiming he had a fear of needles.
Shaun Beardsley was uninsured and driving otherwise in accordance with a licence when he was stopped by officers while illegally behind the wheel of his girlfriend's car in North Tyneside. The 26-year-old was arrested after failing a roadside breath test and taken to a police station.
A court heard that Beardsley gave further breath samples while in custody but one proved to be void and he was asked to provide a blood sample instead, which he refused. Despite warnings, Beardsley repeatedly said he would not be giving a blood specimen as he was "scared of needles", although he later had no medical evidence to prove this.
Beardsley, of Wingrove Avenue, in Fenham, has now been fined £135 and banned from the roads for 16 months after he appeared at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court to plead guilty to failing to provide a specimen of blood. He also admitted driving without insurance, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and failing to surrender to court.
Prosecutor, Claire Armstrong, said officers spotted Beardsley behind the wheel of his girlfriend's Audi A4 on Whitley Road, in Benton, on October 8 last year. He came to a "natural stop" near Bellway Industrial Estate and was spoken to by the constables.
Miss Armstrong continued: "The defendant failed a roadside breath test. He was arrested on suspicion of driving with excess alcohol. He was transported to Middle Engine Lane and, at the police station, he started acting in an erratic manner.
"He provided one sample of breath but the second sample was unreliable. He was then asked to provide a sample of blood but refused saying he had a phobia of needles."
The court heard that Beardsley, who has four offences on his record, suffered from autism, dyslexia and dyspraxia. His solicitor, Paul Kennedy, told magistrates that, three weeks earlier, Beardsley's sister had been to a doctors to give blood.
Mr Kennedy added: "His sister, as sisters do, had shown him her battle wounds in great detail and explained what had happened. In his lack of understanding, that stuck with him and he said he was a bit scared when asked to give blood at the police station. However, "a bit scared" isn't enough."
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