Highland breakfast chef refused to give breath samples to police after being 'unsteady' near his car

Sentence has been deferred on a man thought to be under the influence of alcohol who refused to provide breath samples to police when found near his car.

Craig Brown (40) appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court and admitted the charge.

However, his not guilty pleas to two charges of failing to provide information to police and failing to comply with a preliminary drink-driving test and attempting to drive and being in charge of a vehicle while under the influence were accepted by the Crown.

Fiscal depute Emily Hood said Brown, of Sluggan Drive, Aviemore, had been seen in Inverness city centre on September 4.

She said: "The accused was seen at the locus by a witness who noticed him to be unsteady on his feet.

"Police later traced him to his vehicle."

When taken to Burnett Road police station he refused to provide two breath samples to officers.

Defence agent Rory Gowans said the breakfast chef had referred himself to rehabilitation services to deal with problems with alcohol.

Sheriff Sara Matheson deferred sentence for the preparation of background reports and a restriction of liberty assessment.

He is to return to court on April 27 and was disqualified from driving in the interim.