A MAN who switched on a car’s ignition to eject a CD while drunk has been banned from driving for three months.

Police initially wanted to charge Michael Reynolds with being in charge of a motor vehicle while drunk.

But the 44-year-old, from Darlington, refused to take a breath test so was charged with failing to provide a specimen when he appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court in County Durham today (June 26).

Prosecutor David Wood said police found Reynolds in the driver’s seat of a Ford Fiesta with the key in the ignition and the headlights lit on the evening of June 7.

Officers suspected he had been drinking but Reynolds, of Bramall Lane, twice refused to take a breath test for “personal reasons”.

Callum Terry, in mitigation, said Reynolds refused to give a sample because he believed he had been arrested for drink driving which he knew he was not guilty of.

Mr Terry said Reynolds had been unable to seek legal advice, which would have told him to take the test and then explain the circumstances of him being in the car when he got to court.

Mr Terry said Reynolds would have denied being in charge of the vehicle while drunk and magistrates would probably have found him not guilty based on the evidence and a number of witnesses.

Mr Terry said Reynolds had been hosting a party and had gone to the car to get a CD.

He said Reynolds had no intention of driving.

Reynolds admitted failing to give a specimen and magistrates banned him from driving for three months.

He was also fined £110 and ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge.