A MAN from Runcorn has been sentenced for failing to provide specimen for analysis after being pulled over by police in Ellesmere Port.

Ryan Snowball, of Sycamore Road, was stopped by police in February, after initially failing to pull over.

Warrington Magistrates’ Court heard how Snowball, 35, was suffering from a mental health episode, and had become concerned about being followed by a vehicle prior to the incident.

Snowball called 999 while police were attempting to pull him over and told the operator he would only stop when he saw 'blue lights', due to his concerns.

When he eventually stopped, police carried out a roadside drugs test, which came back positive for cocaine.

The court heard that Snowball admitted to having taken cocaine at a party earlier that week, which is why the result came back at a low level.

Snowball pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis in April, after he did not provide a blood sample for the investigation.

He appeared in Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, where he was sentenced to six months community order, 10 days of rehabilitation, ordered to pay the court £154 and disqualified from driving for 12 months.