POLICE have issued a warning to motorists after a driver was fined almost £3,500 and banned for more than two years for refusing to do a drugs test.

Richard Raynor, 49, of Staithes near Whitby, drove his Audi S3 through a police road block as officers were dealing with an incident in Ryedale in June.

He was stopped and arrested on suspicion of being unfit to drive through drugs but failed to provide a specimen of blood for analysis.

Raynor was charged with failing to provide a specimen and pleaded guilty at Scarborough Magistrates Court. He was banned for 28 months, fined £3,455 and ordered to pay costs and a surcharge totalling £255.

Afterwards Traffic Sergeant Andy Morton said: “We’re seeing an increase in the number of people who fail to provide a specimen after they’ve been arrested on suspicion of drink or drug driving.

“It’s possible some drivers think that behaving like this will somehow give them a ‘get out of jail free’ card.

“But both the police and courts take a dim view of people who fail to provide. In this case, magistrates have imposed a very significant fine and a lengthy driving ban, which should serve as a very stark warning to other motorists."