A Wrexham man has been handed a hefty fine after he refused to provide a sample to the police for analysis.

Rhodri Fieldhouse, of Top Farm Road in Rhosrobin, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The 32-year-old admitted that on February 21, at Llay custody facility, he failed to provide a specimen for analysis.

Prosecutor Justin Espie told the court that at around 8pm on the day of the offence, CCTV operators spotted Fieldhouse getting into a car and driving it away at St George's Crescent in Wrexham.

Police located and drove behind the vehicle, and when it stopped Fieldhouse initially agreed to provide a sample.

But he then "became uncooperative," and was arrested.

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His behaviour continued when he'd been taken to the police station, with him refusing to provide a specimen.

Pierce Blythen, defending, told the court his client, a PGA pro, would feel the impact of the mandatory driving ban - as he "travels across the country" to take part in golf tournaments.

He explained: "He accepts the offence and had consumed alcohol on the day in question.

"He felt safe to drive and made the ill-conceived decision to get in the car."

Mr Blythen said his client wished to apologise to the police for his "difficult and uncooperative" behaviour.

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"He realises now he's made the situation far worse for himself," he added.

District Judge Gwyn Jones accepted there had been no evidence of any bad driving - but said it had been "a deliberate refusal" to comply with the sample request.

He handed down a fine of £900 and ordered Fieldhouse to pay £85 in costs, as well as a £360 victim surcharge.

The defendant was banned from driving for 20 months.