POLICE pepper sprayed an agitated driver who refused to get out of his car after leading them on a chase at 15mph to 20mph through a Blackpool caravan site.

Police received a tip-off that Ashley Bradley may have been drink-driving and he would not stop when signalled by officers.

At Blackpool Magistrates’ Court Ashley Bradley, a 27-year-old breakdown recovery vehicle driver, of Starling Drive, Bolton, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a breath specimen.

He was sentenced to do 80 hours unpaid work, banned from the road for 12 months and was ordered to pay £170 in costs and charges.

Pam Smith, prosecuting, said that on October 1 at 3.50am police received information the driver of a Vauxhall was under the influence of alcohol as he drove away from a petrol station at Preston New Road, Blackpool.Oofficers followed him into Marton Mere Caravan Park but he did not stop when they put on their blue flashing lights.They followed him around the site at 15mph to 20mph and When his car slowed an officer leaned through the window and grabbed the ignition key.

Ms Smith said: “He would not get out of the car and police had to forcibly remove him by pepper-spraying him. He then flatly refused to take a breathalyser test and was verbally abusive to officers.”

Adam Whitaker, defending, saidhis client had been staying at the caravan site and decided to go and buy some cigarettes at a service station.He added: “He felt police actions in spraying him were unnecessary and he was un-cooperative after that.”

The court heard that Bradley admitted drinking four to five pints from about 8pm on the night of the offence and accepted he should have provided a breath specimen.

His partner is due to give birth and he will now lose his job as a recovery driver.