Police treated me like sport, says Maserati driver
A COMPANY director who was stopped by police while driving his luxury Maserati felt police treated him ‘like sport’ when they quizzed him about his swanky motor.
Simon Meredith refused to give a breath test when he was pulled over on suspicion of drink-driving during the late-night incident in Salford.
The 53-year-old was stopped at the wheel of his black Ghibli V6 Auto – which has personalised plates – after officers suspected he was speeding.
When asked to give a roadside breath sample, Meredith, of Stockton Heath, Warrington, said ‘I do not understand’ but was placed in handcuffs.
He was later charged with failing to provide a breath specimen and now faces a mandatory road ban.
Meredith – who previously ran a freight company – admitted the charge at Tameside magistrates court but claimed he had no idea refusing a breath test was an offence and accused officers of putting ‘pressure’ on him and asking if he ‘needed’ his sports car for work.
His lawyer Judith Hawkins said: “It is his case and in his mind he simply did not understand what was going on. It is not the police officers’ fault, they have a script which they have to follow and police cannot actively assist people who come in contact with them in these circumstances.
“He told them ‘I do not understand the circumstances about agreeing to provide a specimen.’
“But he thought there was an alternative and he does not understand the implications of failing to provide. It is fair to say he was put under pressure and he felt some sport was being made of his car. He was being asked what he did for a job and whether he needed his car for driving to and from his job.’’
The incident occurred at 12.35am on August 14 this year when a police patrol spotted the black Maserati coming towards them with the driver ‘appearing’ to drive at excess speed.
Officers followed and activated the emergency equipment and when they spoke to Meredith his eyes were said to be ‘glazed’ and he was a ‘little unsteady on his feet’ but could walk unaided.
Miss Hawkins told the hearing: “My client is a man with no previous convictions. He has a full clean driving licence and drives many miles for his work. He comes here today knowing he has lost his good character.”
She added: “He had never been
asked to blow into an intoxiliser before. He had two glasses of wine many hours before.
“He was candid and said he had had a drink but he thought he was not over the limit. He was in shock after being arrested.”
Prosecutor Tina Cunnane said: “He did not provide the two specimens for analysis and gave no medical reason not to do so. He categorically said no. It was a deliberate refusal.’’
Meredith will be sentenced next month after the preparation of a report but was given an interim driving ban.
Charges against him of failing to stop for police, failing to co-operate and careless driving were dropped.
JP Martin Drake told him: “This was a deliberate refusal but it is lesser harm and you are a man of previous good character.’’