A FAILED asylum seeker was caught driving a BMW without a licence, insurance and smelling of alcohol.

Azaad Charfi, 28, was stopped by officers at 5.45am on Friday while driving along the A689/South Church Road, Bishop Auckland.

Magistrates in Newton Aycliffe on Monday heard he was pulled over as a result of the “manner” of his driving.

John Garside, prosecuting, said police could smell alcohol on Charfi who gave a failed roadside breath test.

He then refused to provide a further sample to be tested at the police station.

The defendant, who was aided by an interpretor, has one previous conviction from 2013, when he received a jail term, suspended for two years, for possessing a bladed article. Nick Woodhouse, mitigating, said Charfi arrived from Iran in 2012 and had failed in seeking asylum. As a result he is unable to work and stays at friends houses.

Charfi pleaded guilty to driving without insurance, without a licence and failing to give a sample.

He was sentenced to one day in custody, already served following his arrest, was banned from driving for 12 months and was ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £115 victim surcharge.