AN 'obstructive' white van drink driver would not let police take a breath sample, claiming he feared catching Covid-19.

Jack Jones used 'delaying tactics' as he claimed police had 'forced' him to take drugs and kept asking if he could have a glass of water rather than provide a specimen of breath.

The 20-year-old unemployed labourer of Pound Bank Road, Malvern, admitted failing to provide the specimen when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday. The defendant was stopped in Albert Park Road, Malvern at 11.15pm on March 31 after officers became concerned about his bad driving. He also admitted failing to attend an assessment following a test for a class A drug (cocaine) on December 9 last year, telling magistrates he had 'forgotten'.

Kerry Lovegrove, prosecuting, said: "Officers could see a large white transit van which they observed swerving onto the wrong side of the road, narrowly missing the central reservation bollard."

He blew 84mcg of alcohol at the roadside but officers needed to take him to the police station to obtain an evidential sample using the intoxilyzer as officers asked him if he had taken any drink or drugs in the last 10 minutes. "He was difficult with the officers. He said 'officers forced me to take drugs'," said Miss Lovegrove.

He told them he would not provide a sample until he had a drink of water and was informed he could have a drink after the procedure. Miss Lovegrove said: "He became, in the words of the officers, incredibly obstructive'. He said because of Covid-19 he could not touch the intoxilyzer machine. He was given a pair of gloves but still refused to provide a specimen."

Jones, who represented himself, said: "Sorry. As I say, I was in the wrong all the way. It was very stupid of me to do that sort of thing. I'm guilty all the way. It shouldn't have been done. That's all I can say to be honest."

He said of his missed drugs appointment at what was formerly Swanswell: "I forgot all about that to be quite honest."

Magistrates imposed a 12 month community order to include 120 hours of unpaid work. Jones was banned from driving for 18 months and must pay costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £90.

They also fined him £200 for failing to attend the drugs appointment. He was offered a course which, if completed on time, will reduce the length of his driving ban by 18 weeks.