A DRUNK van driver asked police for another drink after he was put in a cell, a court heard.

Llewelyn Davies-Kenny was stopped on Darlington’s Haughton Road in the early hours of April 28 last year by police and was said to have smelt strongly of alcohol.

He was also unsteady on his feet.

Prosecuting at Teesside Crown Court, Emma Atkinson said two breath tests taken from the defendant proved unsatisfactory and when he was asked to provide a blood sample he refused.

The 26-year-old, a contract electrician, told officers he wanted legal advice before he did so, adding: “I would like a drink as I have been put in a cell.”

Davies-Kenny, of Ramsden Road, Rochdale, Lancashire, was convicted after a trial of failing to provide a sample.

He had a conviction for drink driving committed in July 2011 and had previously been given a suspended jail sentence for an offence of cannabis production.

In mitigation, he was described as having been foolish and feared the “dire consequences” should he be jailed.

Recorder Bryan Cox said he had come within a “hair’s breadth” of being jailed immediately.

He said Davies-Kenny had demonstrated by his past behaviour that he acted irresponsibly in relation to driving when affected by drink.

The Recorder gave him a five month jail sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered him to do 200 hours unpaid work. He will also be disqualified from driving for five years.