A MAN who twice left the scene of road accidents because he had been drinking escaped an immediate prison sentence yesterday for three offences of failing to give a breath sample.

Simon Norwood, 39, of Hookstone Chase, Harrogate, was found guilty after a trial of two counts of failing to provide breath samples - at the roadside and in the police station - after an accident on May 6.

He pleaded guilty to a further offence committed on September 24.

Peter Scott, prosecuting, said Norwood had flagged down a cab after his car had been involved in an early morning incident in Rudding Lane, close to Harrogate's southern bypass.

The taxi driver had taken Norwood home, but had then called the police, who arrested Norwood after he re- fused to provide a breath sample.

Mr Scott said that, while on bail, Norwood had been involved in a second road accident.

On a journey to Leeds and Bradford Airport, his car had been hit on the A658 by a vehicle which pulled out of a minor road.

An off-duty police officer could smell drink on him when he went to check if Norwood was okay.

Norton walked off with his dog towards North Rigton, and refused to co-operate with the breath test procedure when a police patrol caught up with him.

Norwood was jailed for five months, but the sentence was suspended for a year, during which time he will have to do 150 hours of unpaid work.

He was also banned from driving for four years, and ordered to pay £400 court costs.