(Image: The Northern Echo)
A man of previous good character has lost his good name and driving licence because of his fear of needles.
Sam Stockdale refused to provide a blood specimen after police stopped him while driving a Peugeot car in Darlington on July 21 this year.
Prosecutor Paul Anderson told Peterlee magistrates that Stockdale was suspected of drinking as his speech was slurred and his eyes looked “glassy”.
He failed to provide a roadside sample and, at the police custody hub in Spennymoor he refused to take part in the blood test because of his needle-phobia.
Peterlee magistrates were told defendant Sam Stockdale has a fear of needles and so refused to provide a specimen of blood for police
The 28-year-old, of Brinkburn Avenue, Darlington, admitted failing to provide a specimen for analysis.
Stephen Andrews, for Stockdale, told the court he has no past convictions, “having never previously troubled the court”.
Mr Andrews told the magistrates: “It’s tragic in many respects that he appears before you today and loses his good name.
“It’s even more unfortunate that the refusal here is due to a fear of needles.
“At the police station when trying to determine if someone is over the legal limit, the usual first port of call is the breath test.”
But Mr Andrews said the Camic breathalyser machine was not working at the police custody hub.
“I suspect if it had we would not be here.
“He said he had a small bottle of beer about an hour or so before and felt it was safe to drive.
“He told police immediately: ‘I have a fear of needles’.”
But Mr Andrews said a police medic at the station confirmed it was safe to carry out the test.
“A fear of needles can, in certain circumstances, be an excuse
“He simply said: ‘I have a fear of needles and that’s that.”
Mr Andrews said the fear began after Stockdale returned from Australia, when there was a fear he might have hepatitis B.
He said the needle-phobia also meant Stockdale chose not to have tattoos or piercings.
“So, he’s been a little bit unfortunate.
“There’s no suggestion he was stopped due to bad driving.
“There’s no suggestion he had any passengers and no suggestion he has a propensity to commit offences of this type.”
Mr Andrews said Stockdale worked full-time and could lose his job if he was to be disqualified from driving.
Magistrates’ chairman Lesley Wearmouth told Stockdale: “You’re going to find it was a pretty expensive day out.”
Stockdale was banned from driving for 17 months and fined £1,166., and, with costs and a statutory surcharge, the total bill reached £1,717.
He was told he could shorten the ban by completing a drink-driving rehabilitation course by September 20 next year.