A LLANGWYRYFON man refused to give police a breath sample after he crashed his car because he doesn’t trust the police, magistrates have heard.

Peter Kelvin Toogood, of Llwyn Derw, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen to police when approached by a police officer at the crash scene in the early hours of 4 December with his solicitor saying he had decided to drive after a row with his girlfriend.

Rhian Jones, prosecuting, said police were called after reports of a crash on the B4337 between Aberarth and Pennant and found a car blocking the road with Toogood in the area seemingly searching for something.

A witness approached the officer and said Toogood had been asking for help and that it was thought he was drunk.

When speaking to Toogood, 51, the officer said his speech was slurred with Toogood saying he had been driving home after an argument with his girlfriend.

Toogood refused to give a breath sample and also refused to give a sample at the police station and said: “I don’t trust the police. They’re as criminal as any criminal I’ve known.”

In an interview, Toogood told police he had had bad experiences with the police in the past.

Defence solicitor Janem Jones said Toogood wanted to apologise for his behaviour and said he felt he had “brought shame on myself”.

Ms Jones said Toogood realises he had no justification to refuse the breath test and apologised for the comments he had made about the police.

She said that Toogood had been out with his girlfriend and had been planning on staying the night instead of driving home, but said there was an argument which led to Toogood driving before the crash, which Ms Jones said was caused by the road being icy.

Ms Jones said a driving ban would affect Toogood’s voluntary and charity work which he carries out.

Toogood was banned from driving for 17 months and will pay a fine of £160 and costs totalling £115.