A FRIEND’S “spliff” and a fear of needles combined to land a Rhyl man with a three-year driving ban.

At Llandudno magistrates’ court waiter Sakib Ally, 34, admitted failing to provide a specimen of blood for analysis after being arrested by police in Rhyl town centre on May 18.

Prosecutor Diane Williams said that Ally, of Wellington Road, was stopped by a police officer for driving at speed along Kinmel Street and Elwy Street, and the officer could smell cannabis emanating from his van.

A roadside saliva test proved positive, though just above the permitted limit.

However, after reaching St Asaph police station Ally refused to give a specimen of blood, claiming he had a fear of needles.

Mrs Williams told the court, however, that in 2017 Ally was convicted of drug-driving and on that occasion did not object to providing a specimen.

Charles Stansfield, defending, told the court that Ally had just finished work when a friend asked him to drive him to a nearby shop. The friend was smoking a “spliff” and the cannabis in Ally’s system must have come from that.

His previous experience of giving a blood specimen had been “horrible” and he thought he would have been allowed to provide a urine specimen instead.

In addition to being disqualified for three years Ally, who had originally denied the charge, was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and to attend 10 days of a rehabilitation activity. He must also pay costs of £150 and a £115 surcharge.