Man refused to give blood specimen after drug driving on M62

After testing positive for cannabis on a roadside drug swipe, Uzair Abbasi told officers he would not give a blood specimen as last time he did one he ‘blacked out and chipped his tooth’.

Abbasi, of North Downs, Knutsford, appeared before Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Thursday after being found guilty after trial of failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

Prosecuting, Angela Blackmore told the court the offence happened in Warrington in October last year after the 30-year-old was pulled over by police near to junction 11, Birchwood, on the M62.

She said that officers pulled him over after noticing his car’s rear light was out and that he was in the third lane despite the motorway being empty.

The court heard that when speaking to Abbasi, of Knutsford, officers noticed a smell of cannabis so they performed a roadside drug swipe which came back positive.

Abbasi said he had smoked cannabis just 30 minutes before driving.

Ms Blackmore said that he was taken to the police station where he was asked to provide a blood sample for examination to determine the level of cannabis in his system – but Abbasi refused.

Abbasi told officers that he has a phobia of giving blood and has previously blacked out when doing so – chipping his tooth on one occasion.

But his medical records did not confirm this, and it was found to ‘not be a legitimate medical reason’.

The dad-of-one has no previous convictions.

Defending, Mr Ahmed told the court his client is of previous good character and that this is the first time he has appeared before any court.

Mr Ahmed said: “He was compliant up until his phobia.

“I must emphasise on behalf of the defendant that he is extremely remorseful in terms of what happened with the trial.”

The court also heard how Abbasi is a ‘family man’.

He was handed a 12-month community order and is required to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

Abbasi was also handed a 28-month driving ban and a £620 fine.