A man who refused to take a Breathalyser test has been fined and banned from driving for 18 months.

Ankoma Cannonier, 44, from St George’s, pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared in Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

The court heard that on Wednesday officers saw a car parked in the eastbound lane on North Shore Road, Smith’s. They saw Cannonier asleep in the driver’s seat and woke him up by sounding their siren.

Cannonier then drove towards St George’s, but was stopped near Radnor Road.

When talking with him, police noticed that his speech was slurred, he smelt of alcohol and that he was unsteady on his feet when he got out of the car.

He refused a Breathalyser test both at the scene and at Hamilton Police Station.

In addition to the ban, Cannonier was fined $1,500.