A man was banned from the roads for 18 months for refusing to take a breath test.

Vincent Lightbourne, 43, pleaded guilty to the offence yesterday in Magistrates’ Court.

The court heard that police were called to the Middle Road junction with Camp Hill in Warwick shortly after 2am upon hearing that a man was passed out in a vehicle.

Officers found Lightbourne asleep in the front driver’s seat of a Mitsubishi truck with the keys in the ignition and the radio playing.

Police woke him and asked Lightbourne if he had had alcohol, to which he said he had a few drinks.

Officers arrested him and took him to Hamilton Police Station.

They demanded a sample of breath for analysis, but Lightbourne refused.

The incident happened on March 1.

Lightbourne, from Paget, “humbly” apologised for his actions.

He told the court that he had “a long day” at a charity event and wanted to get home.

Magistrate Craig Attridge fined Lightbourne $1,500 on top of his driving ban and ordered him to pay that same day.

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