A NEYLAND man claimed he had not been driving when he was found asleep in the driver’s seat of a smoking car.

Christos Samios, 48, of West Street, Rosemarket, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis, when he appeared before the bench at Haverfordwest magistrates court on Tuesday.

The court heard that officers received a report that a car had collided with a wall at Pill Hill, Haverfordwest, at 11.45pm on October 9.

Vaughan Pritchard-Jones, prosecuting, said: “The vehicle was found half on and half off the pavement. The tyre was flat and there was smoke coming from the vehicle.

“The front wing was completely pulled off the vehicle and the defendant was asleep in the driver’s seat. The keys were on the passenger seat.”

Samios stated that his girlfriend had been driving and he had got into the driver’s side and fallen asleep after she left the scene.

A roadside breath test was positive, but Samios refused to provide a sample at the police station, despite being warned of a risk of prosecution.

Mark Layton, defending, said: “He says the tyre had blown, that’s why the vehicle stopped, and it had not been involved in a collision. The damage had previously occurred."

Mr Layton added that that Samios was a former military man, who had health issues arising out of active service, and his future employment depended on his driving licence.

Magistrates disqualified Samios from driving for 12 months and fined him £120.

He was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £30 victim surcharge.