A Milford man who failed to provide a specimen for analysis when suspected of drink-driving after crashing into parked cars has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Thirty-nine-year-old Paul Heathfield, of Harbour Way Hakin, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday to admit the offence.

Prosecutor Vaughan Pritchard-Jones told the court that at 9.20 pm on December 20, police received a call which said a vehicle had crashed into three parked cars.

Officers then went searching for the defendant’s vehicle, a Ford Transit van.

When they found it, the vehicle still had its lights on and the alarm was going off.

The police removed the defendant from the van and noticed that he smelt strongly of intoxicants and was unsteady on his feet.

In court, it was disclosed that the vehicle had been parked outside a local pub for much of the day.

After being taken to the police station, Mr. Heathfield, who had previous convictions, refused to give a breath sample, saying he had anxiety.

Mr. Heathfield was given a chance to provide a specimen of blood, but refused as he told the officer that he had a post traumatic stress order.

The defendant was then given an hour to provide two samples of urine, but failed to do so.

“The officer was bending over backwards for the defendant,” Mr. Pritchard-Jones said.

Probation officer Julie Norman told magistrates that the defendant knew he was in a serious situation and regretted his decision not to provide a specimen.

She said that Mr. Heathfield had not been in trouble with the police for over 17 years.

She added that the defendant who had been prescribed with anti-depressants and had problems relating to alcohol, was disappointed to find himself in court.

Defence solicitor Jonathan Webb admitted that his client had clearly failed to provide urine when requested to do so and that he should have provided a specimen.

He said the defendant was the ‘author of his own downfall’.

During sentencing, the chairman of the bench, said: “Our sentence reflects the seriousness of what happened.”

Magistrates handed the defendant a 12-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months, and disqualified him from driving for 30 months.

He was also handed a 12-month community order to include 150 hours of unpaid work.

The chairman of the bench told the defendant that “it was in his best interests to complete the order.”

Mr. Heathfield was further ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £122.