Haverhill – Man banned from driving for failing to provide a specimen

A 39-year-old man has been banned from driving for three years after being arrested in Haverhill for failing to provide a specimen of breath. 

Billy McCreaner, of Cardinals Green, Horseheath, Cambridgeshire, appeared before Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on Saturday 24 June, where he pleaded guilty to the offence. He was disqualified from driving for 36 months and ordered to pay £1,225 in fines and other costs. 

At just after 10pm on Friday 23 June, police were called to reports of a disturbance in Bellings Road. 

Officers attended and found McCreaner standing beside his vehicle with the engine running. He appeared under the influence of alcohol and so acting on information he had driven himself there, the officers requested that him to undertake a roadside breath test which he refused. 

McCreaner was then arrested as a result of this and taken to Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre, where he was once again offered the opportunity to take a breath test but refused. 

He was subsequently charged with failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis and remanded in custody to appear before magistrates. 

Inspector Ben Hollands, Locality Commander for Sudbury and Haverhill, said: “This was a really good arrest from the response officers who were called out to this incident.

“They quickly identified that McCreaner appeared to be intoxicated and had been driving the vehicle, so their prompt attendance and actions potentially avoided him causing a serious collision later that night. 

“Failing to provide a specimen is as serious an offence as providing a positive breath test and the three-year ban displays how severely the courts treat it. Drink-driving is extremely dangerous and the consequences can be fatal.”