A PRESTONPANS builder who failed to give police officers two specimens of breath after being suspected of drink driving has been allowed to keep his licence.

John McIntyre refused to give the officers the samples after his neighbours informed the police that they believed the self-employed builder to have been behind the wheel after consuming alcohol.

Police attended at his home address at the town’s Robertson Avenue and McIntyre was later traced and was said to be “under the influence of alcohol”.

He was taken to Dalkeith Police Station and asked to give a breath sample but McIntyre was said to have refused and gave “no reason”.

Solicitor Cameron Tait said that his client had not driven the car that evening and the incident had been reported by “problem neighbours” who McIntyre had a verbal altercation with earlier that evening.

Prosecutor Ms Dunn said that police were called out to Robertson Avenue by McIntyre’s neighbours at about 12.45am on August 20.

The father-of-four was traced and refused to give breath tests at the police station.

Mr Tait said that McIntyre was left “shocked” at the allegation he had driven under the influence of alcohol in August and was “upset and distressed” by his court appearance.

Mr Tait said: “He felt if he gave the sample he would be admitting drink driving.”

“Ironically he could have taken this to trial if he had given the sample,” the lawyer added.

The 36-year-old builder was fined £540 and handed a total of 10 points on his driving licence by Sheriff Nigel Ross.

McIntyre admitted failing to give police officers two specimens of breath at Dalkeith Police Station on August 20.