An Ipswich driver who refused to give a breath sample has been fined £500 and banned from driving for more than a year.

Jose Marques Vieira, of London Road in the Suffolk town, was asked by officers at Martlesham police investigation centre, Suffolk police's headquarters, to give a sample of his breath for analysis on June 8.

However, according to court documents, the 27-year-old “failed without reasonable excuse to do so”.

He was therefore charged with failing to provide a specimen, and pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared at Suffolk Magistrates’ Court in Ipswich.

Marques Vieira was disqualified from driving for 17 months. However, he will have the option of reducing this time by 17 weeks by completing a safety course.

Marques Vieira was also fined £500. He will also have to pay court costs of £85 and a surcharge towards victim services of £200.

This brings the amount Marques Vieira will have to pay out for the offence to £785.