A MOTORIST who refused to give a breath sample after colliding with a car causing injury to two teenagers at a roundabout has been banned from driving for 16 months.

Steven Thomas Moss collided with a car containing a female driver and two teenage passengers at the roundabout on the A688 from Bracks Farm to South Church near Bishop Auckland at 8.45pm on January 17.

Magistrates in Newton Aycliffe heard that Moss pulled out in front of the other car leaving it with no chance of avoiding a collision.

Prosecutor Vicky Wilson said he failed to stop after the accident but police found him a short while later at his home on Front Street in West Auckland after the details of his Toyota Avensis were noted by a taxi driver.

She said the teenagers and other driver suffered minor aches and pains, and police believed he had been drinking as he smelled of alcohol and his speech was slurred.

When police said they wanted to speak to him about the accident, Moss, 52, replied “what crash”, the court heard.

He then refused to give a sample, but the court heard in mitigation he thought he should be allowed to speak to a mental health specialist first.

Moss admitted failing to stop after or report an accident, careless driving and failing to provide a specimen.

Magistrates also gave him a 12 month community order with supervision and ordered him to pay £60 victim surcharge.