A farmer who refused a breathalyser test, claiming he had alzheimers, has been ordered to pay £500.

Malcolm John Lewis, of Felin Fach, Narberth, was found guilty of failing to provide a specimen of breath last month and sentenced by magistrates yesterday (Monday).

Lewis was given a 12 month community order; banned from driving for four years and ordered to pay £500 costs.

On November 3rd 2009 Lewis was found slumped in the driver's seat of his car, slurring and smelling of alcohol.

The car was on the verge and had gone into the hedge. The lights were on, the vehicle was in gear, the keys were in the ignition and the ignition light was on.

Traffic officers called to the scene described 55-year-old Lewis as seeming “extremely intoxicated” and “almost unconscious”. They had to carry him from his Vauxhall Vectra to the police car.

At the station attempts were made to breathalyse Lewis, who refused, saying that he was not in very good health and had alzheimers.

In his defence Lewis said he said he had no recollection of being asked to provide a sample of breath at the station.

He claimed he had had one bottle of lager during the day but had become tired and pulled his car into the side of the road to rest. He then found another bottle in the car after he had parked. He drank this and then fell asleep in his vehicle.

Magistrates found him guilty, deciding that he had driven the vehicle while drunk, rather than being drunk in charge.

Sentencing was adjourned until yesterday so that the probation service could prepare a pre-sentence report.