A WINSFORD man has been handed a three-year driving ban and ordered to carry out community service after failing to provide a breath sample.

Carl Anthony Shearer, 38, of Gladstone Street, was sentenced to 200 hours' unpaid work in the town by magistrates at Northwich on Friday.

He had previously been found guilty at a trial on September 9.

Karen Morgan-Reed, prosecuting, told the court that police followed Shearer in a white Vauxhall Astra van at around 11.45pm on June 20 after they spotted him not wearing a seatbelt.

She added that after several unsteady turns Shearer pulled up and they asked him to provide a specimen of breath.

He failed on three attempts and was arrested. Defending, Chris Johnson said that his client continued to insist that he not was under the influence of any great amount of alcohol on the night in question.

He added that Shearer also denied he was trying to avoid being detected as a drink driver.

Magistrates also ordered him to pay £250 costs.