A Moray man was yesterday banned from driving for almost two years after refusing to give a breath sample.
Barry Taylor, 24, was stopped after officers were informed that he was driving while under the influence of alcohol.
They found him in a car parked on the A96 near Alves at 3.40am on September 17.
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Once the police had arrested Taylor and taken him to the police station in Elgin, he was found to be in possession of a large knuckleduster.
When officers tried to conduct the drink-driving procedure, Taylor refused to comply with them before calling them insulting names and swearing at them.
Later, Taylor was in a consultation room at the station speaking on the phone to his solicitor when officers heard something being thrown against the wall.
When they entered it became evident he had damaged the phone as it was in several pieces on the floor.
Depute Fiscal Alex Swain described Taylor as “visibly upset and unsteady on his feet” when police stopped him in his car, adding that he was “generally difficult to deal with”.
Taylor, of Brodie Caravan Park, pled guilty to driving while under the influence of drink or drugs, having an offensive weapon in a public place and behaving in a threatening manner at Dr Gray’s Hospital.
Sheriff Chris Dickson warned Taylor that he was on the verge of custody, telling him he was on his last chance.
Taylor was disqualified from driving for 21 months, ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work and given a 100-day restriction of liberty order.
