POLICE who investigated a parked car after a tip-off from a worried neighbour found three whisky bottles inside and Richard Malthouse sitting behind the wheel, a court heard yesterday.

Peter Scott, prosecuting, told Harrogate magistrates that Malthouse, 32, who had a glazed expression and smelled strongly of alcohol, told police he had parked in Roseville Avenue, Harrogate, and taken two sleeping pills and an anti-depressant tablet to sleep off the previous night's hangover.

He refused to provide a breath test and was arrested.

Some months later and while on bail, he was stopped as he drove along North Park Road, Harrogate. After again refusing to give a breath specimen he was found to be still on or around the drink-drive limit about ten hours later.

Malthouse, of Park Avenue, Harrogate, pleaded guilty to two offences of failing to provide a breath specimen and was put on probation for a year, banned from driving for three years and ordered to pay £150 costs.

In mitigation, David Camidge said Malthouse blamed serious medical problems, both mental and physical.