A SUSPECTED drink driver who refused to provide breath samples to police has been banned from the roads for three years.

Andrew Sutherland — who has a previous conviction for an identical offence — simply told officers: ‘I’m not doing it’.

The 26-year-old was found to be ‘smelling of drink’ in Bow Road, Greenock, at around 2.30 in the morning, the town’s sheriff court heard.

Prosecutor Lindy Scaife said: “Police approached the accused and noted a smell of drink.

“At 3am a roadside breath test proved positive.

“At 3.30am he agreed to provide two samples of breath at Greenock police office.

“He blew twice but stopped too soon with his breathing.

“The accused then sat down and said, ‘I’m not doing it’.” Sutherland — who had a not guilty plea to driving without insurance accepted — committed the offence on 23 August last year.

The supermarkert worker had been driving a nearly new blue-coloured Skoda Octavia car.

Defence lawyer Aidan Gallagher said: “This appears to have been an aberration for him following an argument with his girlfriend.

“He had been in the company of his girlfriend and others.

“An argument developed and he left the house.

“Another matter drew him to the attention of the police.” Sheriff Ian Fleming told Sutherland: “You have a directly analogous previous conviction.” As well as the three-year driving ban, Sutherland, of Greenock’s Union Street, was fined £400.