A HEREFORDSHIRE woman has been banned from the roads after failing to give a breath sample to police.

Lynda Meeks admitted one count of failing to provide a sample when suspected of being in charge of a vehicle when she appeared before magistrates in Hereford in October.

Prosecutor Eleanor Peart said police spoke to Meeks on her driveway after she returned to her home on September 15.

Officers said she smelled of alcohol and, suspecting she had been drinking, asked her to take a roadside breath test, which she failed.

Meeks admitted that she had been drinking and was taken to Hereford police station, where she was asked to take an evidential breath test.

But she failed to complete the test, blowing 'insufficiently' into the machine.

Police said she had been struggling to seal her mouth around the mouthpiece and was struggling to blow.

"It seems to be the opinion of police that she was unable to give a sample due to intoxication rather than it being a deliberate refusal to do so," Miss Peart said.

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George Cousins, for Meeks, said the 71-year-old had arrived home to find police were there on another matter.

"She admitted to them that she had a drink before she came back, cooperated with police, and went to the police station," Mr Cousins said.

"But she was unable to provide a sample despite trying three or four times. She says she was quite willing to give a blood sample, but that was declined."

Meeks, of Garden Close, Kington, was fined £120 and disqualified from driving for six months. She must also pay costs of £135 and a £48 victim surcharge.

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