A CARDENDEN man refused to give a blood sample after being found behind the wheel of his car and suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Michael Page’s later claims that it was because he was scared of needles failed to impress a sheriff as he had given another reason to police.

Page, 35, of Westfield Brae, Cardenden, appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on November 14 last year, at Dunfermline police station, he failed to provide a specimen of blood as required by officers.

Page was found in the driver’s seat with the keys in the ignition, outside his home.

The court was told he claimed he had only gone into the car to sit for a moment because a child was crying in the house.

Page also claimed he did not agree to give a specimen of blood because he was “terrified of needles”.

Sheriff Charles Macnair pointed out that was not the reason he gave at the time when he said he was worried that the test would be positive for cannabis.

Sheriff Macnair fined Page £450 and banned him from driving for 11 months.