A SUSPECTED drink-driver with multiple convictions has been branded a 'public danger' by a sheriff — after again failing to provide breath and blood samples to police.
Barry Reid — who has been jailed by lawman Eric Brown — was stopped by officers shortly after midday on the Sunday of the Greenock Fair weekend following reports from concerned members of the public about his driving.
Dad-of-two Reid, 39, cooperated with a roadside breath test on Rue End Street but claimed to have asthma after he failed to provide legally required follow-up samples on a police office intoximeter machine.
Prosecutor Kevin Doherty told Greenock Sheriff Court: "He was breathalysed at the roadside which showed a high reading for alcohol.
"Officers attempted to carry out procedures for him to provide two samples of his breath on the intoximeter machine.
"The accused appeared to try on a number of occasions but failed to provide a sample. On being asked why, he replied, 'I have asthma — I've tried'."
Fiscal depute Mr Doherty added: "Arrangements were made for him to provide a sample of his blood and he agreed to this.
"A doctor attended at 2.10pm and by this point Mr Reid became uncooperative and was verbally aggressive.
"The doctor asked him on two occasions for a specimen of his blood.
"Mr Reid said, 'Give me five minutes', and when the doctor asked again he said, 'No'.
"He was placed within a cell and when asked for the reason why he failed to provide a blood specimen he said, 'No comment'."
The court heard that Reid, of Nairn Road, has five previous convictions for offences including driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs and failing to provide breath specimens.
His lawyer, John Lannigan, told the court that he had been boozing late into the night before at a pal's house and thought that he was ok to drive by midday.
Mr Lannigan said: "Mr Reid understands that he is in a precarious position.
"He has convictions of an analogous nature and those convictions do him no favours."
The solicitor added: "He almost doesn't seem to grasp the seriousness of his offending and the impact it has on his family and the wider community.
"Prison would have a devastating effect on him and his family."
But Sheriff Eric Brown decided that Reid — who was previously placed on a community payback order — deserved a spell behind bars.
The sheriff said: "I have to take into account all of the material circumstances, including previous convictions.
"Standing your record it is not appropriate to impose anything other than a custodial sentence.
"You are a danger to the public at large and in particular those who travel on the roads.
"People who drink and drive simply will not be tolerated."
Reid was jailed for four months and banned from driving for five years.