A biker who had an accident in Carlisle while he was under the influence of alcohol has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Scott Anthony Bowness, 21, came a cropper on his motorbike when he tried to ride on the inside of another vehicle as he approached Hardwicke Circus from Georgian Way on the morning of July 16 last year.

His machine mounted the kerb, District Judge Gerald Chalk was told at the city’s magistrates’ court.

Prosecutor Diane Jackson said: “At the scene, the defendant provided a positive breath sample, with a reading of 92mgs and he was then taken to The Cumberland Infirmary for treatment.”

But after hospital medics said Bowness was fit to provide a blood sample for alcohol testing, the defendant refused, the court heard.

In court, Bowness, of Hadrians Gardens, Botcherby, Carlisle, entered a guilty plea to two offences: failing to provide a specimen for analysis and riding his motorbike without due care and attention.

His defence lawyer, Sara Budniak, told the court the defendant suffers from attention deficit disorder, a chronic condition marked by persistent inattention, hyperactivity and sometimes impulsivity.

A man of previous good character, he was currently living with his grandparents but the condition he suffers from can have an impact on the way he presents himself.

Miss Budniak said: “He has suffered from this illness for a number of years and has only recently been medicated.”

She said that in his younger years Bowness had been prescribed antidepressants and he was now struggling with the medication he was currently on.

Miss Budniak added: “On this occasion he had had alcohol and if he had managed to make it home in 10 minutes it would not have been ingested in his system.”

The judge told Bowness: “You were driving while clearly intoxicated and you deliberately chose not to provide a sample.

“This justifies a prison sentence. But I am aware of your health issues.”

He imposed 60 days jail but suspended the term for a year, and ordered Bowness to complete 30 days of rehabilitation with the Probation Service. Bowness was given a two year driving ban.

The judge imposed no separate penalty for the careless driving offence.

The defendant must also pay prosecution costs of £775 and an £80 victim surcharge, handing over his £200 savings within 14 days.