A Latvian man who drank Jack Daniels cocktails at a friend’s house before driving home through Great Cornard has been given a 17-month driving ban.

Guntis Oskalns, of North Street, Sudbury, pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to provide breath tests at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court today.

The 39-year-old refused to have a roadside breath test on July 16 after being pulled over by police for failing to switch his rear lights on.

Ian Devine, prosecuting, told the court a police officer asked Oskalns to provide a breath sample after smelling alcohol on him but he refused.

Officers arrested him and took him to the Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre where he refused a second breath test.

Paul Roach, mitigating, said Oskalns was deeply sorry for his actions.

Oskalns was also given a 12-month community order with 80 days unpaid work. He was also made to pay £170 in court costs.