A POLICE officer had to restrain a retired businessman by forcing him to the ground when he became abusive after refusing to take a breath test.

Worcester Magistrates Court yesterday heard that 61-year-old Roger Giles, from Chadbury Road, Lenchwick, near Evesham, failed to provide a sample and resisted arrest.

Giles was fined £600 for both offences and also banned from driving for 18 months.

Peter Parson, prosecuting, said that on the afternoon of Sunday, August 3, a police car had followed Giles as he drove along Green Hill and parked in Evesham High Street.

He said the officer walked up to the defendant and tried to speak to him.

"As the officer spoke to the defendant he noticed that he smelled of alcohol," said Mr Parson.

"The officer asked him to take a roadside breath test but the defendant became abusive,"

Mr Parson added that the officer had to call for assistance and Giles was then taken to the station, where he again became abusive and refused to give a breath specimen.

Giles' solicitor, John Brookes, said his client was a "courteous and well-mannered man" and this incident was "wholly out of character".

He said Giles, who admitted both offences, had been out in the morning and on his way home he stopped off at a pub and had two glasses of wine.

When he got home he had lunch at around 1pm and drank some more wine and later made the journey into the town.

"He does regret the incident and he does realise that it was silly not to take the test," said Mr Brookes.

Giles was also ordered to pay costs of £55.