A MAN who failed to provide a sample of breath at a police station has received a hefty order of unpaid work and a driving ban.

Jonathan Harkin was given the ban after he appeared before the bench at South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court.

The 29-year-old, who pleaded guilty to the charge, was said to have committed the offence on October 20.

Magistrates were told Harkin had refused to be tested for alcohol in his breath after he was stopped by police driving home from a night at West Shore Bowling Club.

In mitigation, defence solicitor Karen Templeton said he had driven and refused to give a sample because he had become scared and agitated due to an incident at the club.

She said: “There was an incident and he found it quite distressing.

“He had to wait 45 minutes for a taxi and just wanted to get away.

In a letter Harkin wrote to the police which was read out in court, Harkin spelt out his remorse.

“I regret the way I acted,” he said. “It was completely out of character for me.

“I can honestly say it will never happen again.”

The court was told a prison sentence would have led to him losing his job and therefore unable to pay his mortgage for the home he shares with his partner.

Magistrates served the defendant, a resident of Barrow’s Durham Street, with a community order of unpaid work.

Harkin will have to complete 250 hours of work in the community over the next 12 months.

On top of that he was banned from driving for 29 months.

The bench also handed down a victim surcharge of £90 and ordered him to pay £85 in costs for bringing the case to court.