A MAN who failed a roadside drugs swipe refused to give a sample of blood at the police station.

Blackburn magistrates heard Mehtab Hussain pleaded not guilty when he appeared in court on the grounds that he had a phobia of needles.

But the court was told that had not been mentioned at the police station when he had simply refused "point blank" to provide a sample.

Hussain, 30, of Steiner Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis on March 9.

The offence put him in breach of a six weeks suspended prison sentence imposed for disqualified driving which the magistrates activated after ruling it had been a deliberate refusal.

He was banned from driving for 12 months, fined £270 and ordered to pay £250 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said police stopped Hussain and there was a strong smell of cannabis coming from the vehicle.

A roadside drug swipe proved positive for cannabis and cocaine and he was arrested and taken to Greenbank police station.

"He refused point blank to provide a specimen of blood," said Miss Allan.

"It was a deliberate refusal and the needle phobia was not mentioned until it was put forward as his defence."

Nazia Shabbir, defending, said having initially pleaded not guilty Hussain changed his plea and accepted his guilt.