A DORSET county councillor has received an 18 month driving ban for failing to give a breath test after he drove his car into a wall after leaving a pub.

Karl Wallace, who works as a nurse and is also a district councillor and parish council chairman, was told by magistrates chairwoman Mary Jennings that he had committed a ‘serious’ offence.

Dad-of-five Wallace, 48, of Main Street, Bothenhampton, admitted failing to provide a specimen for analysis following the smash at West Bay Road in Bridport in the early hours of March 20.

He had been drinking in Bridport pubs from 9pm, Weymouth Magistrates Court was told.

Prosecutor Nicola Raynsford told magistrates that Wallace was given ‘ample opportunity’ by police officers to give a breath test.

She said: “At 2am Mr Wallace was driving a Ford Ka that was in a road traffic accident.

“A witness called the police and the police responded to the call.

“Mr Wallace had left his vehicle and was walking to the main road. Police officers stopped him a short distance away and he denied being involved.”

Miss Raynsford added that Wallace refused a roadside breath test and said he would leave.

She said: “He was arrested and required to provide two further samples of breath. He refused and said he would wait for his wife.

“He was given ample opportunity to provide a sample but failed.”

Miss Raynsford added that Wallace was on his way to West Bay to speak to boy racers at the time of the accident and had an ongoing problem with his car’s steering.

He suffered memory loss, dizziness, high blood pressure and an injury on his right shoulder from the seatbelt in the collision.

Mitigating, Max Owen said Wallace accepted he had been ‘foolish’.

“Mr Wallace accepts on that night he had gone out and had a few drinks.

“He accepts it was foolish. He had been deciding whether he was sober or over the limit when he got into his car to drive,” he said.

Mr Owen said the accident happened as a result of a cat running out into the road and his client had little memory of the night.

He added: “Mr Wallace did go and see his GP the next morning and the GP said he may be suffering from concussion after the incident.

“It’s not uncommon for people to refuse to take a breath test until their solicitor arrives but to refuse to take a test until their wife arrives is somewhat less common.”

Mr Owen added that Wallace’s wife would have to drive him to many of his appointments during his ban.

Mr Wallace is someone who has devoted his life to the service of the public.

“As a nurse he works for the NHS and is the chairman of Bothenhampton Parish Council.

“He sits on Bridport Town Council and is councillor for the district and county council.

“He spends most of his life working for the public.

“He says that with a Herculean effort on the part of his wife he will be able to carry on to do the work he does,” he said.

Magistrates fined Wallace £300 and ordered he pay £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

His 18 month ban will be reduced by four months upon completion of a drivers’ rehabilitation course.