Russell Ward-Best failed a roadside breath test and, when arrested again later, refused to give police a specimen.

A Honiton motorist was arrested twice on the same day after members of the public told police they were concerned about the manner of his driving.

Russell Ward Best, 55, of 56b Kings Arms Cottages, High Street, appeared at Central Devon Magistrates’ Court, Exeter, last Friday and pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol in Honiton on Sunday, July 10, and to failing to provide a specimen of breath to police later the same day.

The court heard that a tip off to police at 5pm led to Ward Best being almost immediately stopped in New Street.

He failed a roadside breath test and was arrested.

At a police station in Exeter, further breath tests revealed 51 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of his breath.

Ward Best was charged with driving with excess alcohol and released on police bail - once he had given a reading below the legal drink-drive limit of 35 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

However, at 11.30pm, two members of the public in Honiton flagged down a passing patrol car and expressed concern about Ward Best’s driving.

He was again stopped, but this time refused to give a roadside specimen of breath. He was arrested and at a police station again refused to give police a sample.

The court banned Ward Best from driving for 12 months, imposed a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay �100 costs.

After the case, Sergeant Martin Burrow paid tribute to members of the public for reporting Ward-Best to police.

“They made us aware and we were able to quickly respond,” he said. This shows that Honiton remains well-policed and that we will deal with incidents in a timely and positive way.

“We would like to encourage people to report suspicious activity to us.”