A MAN has been banned from driving for three years after his attempts to give a breathalyser test were branded "feeble" by police.

Officers stopped a Vauxhall Frontera driven by Stuart Jonathan James Breeze on his home street on April 10, Newton Aycliffe magistrates heard.

Prosecutor Rachael Dodsworth said Breeze, 34, of Durham Road in Spennymoor, was stopped at around 5.40pm.

She said police could smell a strong smell of booze on his breath and decided to breathalyse him.

But after several failed attempts he was arrested and taken to the police station, where he also failed to complete further tests.

Ms Dodsworth said Breeze’s attempts were criticised as 'feeble' by officers and he was charged with failing to provide a specimen, which he admitted in court.

The court also heard he had no driving licence or insurance.

The prosecutor said Breeze has two previous convictions in the last 10 years for drink driving one of which resulted in a prison sentence.

Sam Brewster, mitigating, said his client accepted he would be banned but said there was no evidence of bad driving when police stopped him.

As well as the ban, magistrates imposed a 12 month community order with supervision and ordered Breeze to pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.