A WALNEY motorist was found with an open can of lager in his car after getting caught in a collision involving another vehicle and a cyclist.

Glen McPoland then refused to let officers breath test him following the incident.

The 27-year-old, of Powerful Street, Walney appeared at Furness Magistrates’ Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

Mr Peter Kelly, prosecuting, told the court McPoland had been drinking in his house before deciding to go for a drive at around 7pm on May 28.

At around 7.30pm, he reached the Shell garage in Ulverston and bought a four-pack of Foster’s lager before heading east towards Kendal.

He was then involved in a collision with a vehicle waiting to turn off the A590, causing it to spin around and hit a bicycle travelling in the opposite direction.

The police officer who found McPoland with one of the cans of Fosters open in the car said the defendant tried to move over to the passenger side to get out and get away.

McPoland was described as smelling of alcohol and becoming aggressive while twice refusing to do a breath test.

During interview, the defendant said he had post-traumatic stress disorder and that he had been feeling depressed.

He said he could not remember most of what had happened and did not feel he was in the right state of mind to be tested.

Miss Karen Templeton, defending said: “He admitted he had had a few drinks during the day and then, of course, there was the accident.

“One of the things he remembers is coming round in the car. The air bags had gone off and his nose was bleeding.

“He can’t really explain why he refused the test; it’s very much out of character.”

McPoland was given a 12-month community order, including 180 hours of unpaid work, and banned from driving for 25 months.

He was ordered to pay £85 court costs, a £60 victim surcharge and £150 criminal court charges.