Reading Magistrates' Court: Thatcham man failed to provide sample

A DRINK-driving suspect has been convicted of failing to provide a blood specimen – even though he may not have been at the wheel.

In the dock at Reading Magistrates' Court on Thursday, July 7, was Jack Mason.

The 31-year-old, of Stirling Way, Thatcham, admitted that, at Chieveley on September 27 last year, having been required to provide a specimen of blood for a laboratory test in the course of an investigation into whether he had committed an offence, failed without reasonable excuse to do so.

However, a Newton hearing – a mini trial to establish disputed facts – determined that the prosecution had failed to prove Mr Mason had been the driver at the time.

Although he was nevertheless convicted of the offence, magistrates sentenced him on the basis of his account, rather than the prosecution's.

He therefore avoided an otherwise mandatory driving ban.

However, Mr Mason was fined £180 and ordered to pay £85 costs, plus a statutory victim services surcharge of £34.