Searching for tobacco in a parked car led to a further driving ban for a Milford Haven mechanic.

Carl Wayne Rose, of Vicary Crescent, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis while suspected of being in charge of a vehicle, when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday, April 16.

Prosecutor Vaughan Pritchard-Jones said Rose, 38, was spotted getting into the driver’s seat of a Fiat Panda after staggering across the road, and appearing to be drunk, on March 31.

The concerned eye-witness informed a police officer who went to speak to Rose, who had swapped seats to sit in the passenger’s side.

He stated his wife had driven, and he had returned to the car to look for his tobacco, but refused to provide a roadside breath test.

Rose added he was already banned from driving and said: “Send me to jail.”

Mr Pritchard-Jones said: “I was taken to Haverfordwest police station and simply refused to provide a sample. He point blank refused to cooperate.”

The court heard that Rose still had three months of his driving ban remaining.

Anthony O’Connell, defending, said: “He was not the person that drove to the place where the vehicle was, he was in charge as he had the keys and was looking for his tobacco in both sides of the vehicle.

“He realises it was a mistake to not give a sample when required, but can’t give a reason for that.”

Mr O’Connell added that Rose was a mechanic, and both he and his employer were looking forward to his licence being reinstated.

Magistrates ordered Rose to pay £415, made up of a fine, costs and a surcharge.

He was banned from driving for six months.