A PROFESSIONAL gardener whose transit van smelled of cannabis twice refused to give police a blood specimen for analysis, claiming he feared needles.

Reginald Jordan, 49, committed the first offence in Carlisle on May 29 and then repeated an almost identical crime six days later, despite having no legal excuse.

At Carlisle's Rickergate court, he admitted both offences. 

On the first occasion, the court heard, police carried out a routine stop as Jordan drove in Carlisle, said prosecutor George Shelley.

“The van smelled strongly of cannabis,” said the prosecutor. “A roadside drugs swipe test gave a positive result for cannabis, so Mr Jordan was taken into custody, where he declined to provide a blood sample for analysis.

“In an interview, he admitted failing to provide a specimen; he said he was scared of needles, though it was not diagnosed as a phobia.

"It was noted that he has tattoos.”

The second offence also happened in Appleby on June 4.  Once again, the defendant said he did not like needles. Even after a healthcare worker explained the procedure, he continued to refuse to provide blood.

The court heard that there were 12 previous offences on Jordan’s record.

They include two relevant crimes: an excess alcohol offence from 1999 and a previous failing to provide a specimen offence from 2006.

Defence lawyer Andrew Gurney said the defendant was “very ill” five years ago and it was that illness which triggered his fear of needles. “He went through a long course of treatment,” said the lawyer.

Having blood samples taken in the past left the defendant “traumatised,” “shaking”, and suffering “panic attacks,” said Mr Gurney.(Image: Newsquest)

During those blood tests, he said, Jordan was left in tears and needing the support of loved ones.

Mr Gurney continued: “It’s not a case where there's no reason and he’s making it up. There's a history of a fear of needles. But it's not formally a phobia.”

The defendant had not committed any other offences for 14 years, the court heard.

Referring to the second offence, Mr Gurney said Jordan, of Chalfont Lane, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, did not continue using cannabis; he simply failed to realise the drug would still be in his system for so long.

Magistrates imposed a one-year community order, which includes 80 hours of unpaid work. Jordan was banned from driving for 24 months and told to pay fines and costs totalling £284.