FAILING TO GIVE SPECIMEN FOR ANALYSIS LANDS NEWPORT MAN IN COURT

A Newport man who failed to give a specimen for analysis at Newport Police Station despite being given several chances to do so, will be sentenced next month. Danny Burnett, 61, of Wellesley Way in Newport, admitted failing to provide a specimen for analysis when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court earlier this week (Tuesday 7th May). Prosecuting, Liz Miller, told the court that at 09:20 on 19th April Police were made aware of a Ford Mondeo being driven in Newport along St George’s Approach. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle but having pulled over, the driver proceeded to move off again, leading Police to follow him once again until he stopped completely on Carisbrooke High Street. Once parked and having got out of the car, Burnett told Police that he was a regular cannabis user. Officers noticed that Burnett was unsteady on his feet and was stumbling his words. A roadside drug wipe was conducted in which a positive result for cannabis was returned. Burnett was arrested and taken to Newport Police Station where he refused to give a blood sample on numerous occasions. The court heard how Burnett became angry and anti-police and authority when he was asked to provide a sample. Defending Burnett, Oscar Vincent, told the court that his client had recently suffered from a heart attack and he was registered disabled and suffered from COPD. He also added that the reason Burnett didn’t stop when first approached by Police was because he didn’t realise they were pulling him over and instead thought they wanted to pass him. The case was adjourned until the 28th June to allow a pre-sentence report to be compiled. Burnett was handed an interim driving ban and granted unconditional bail until that time.