Suspected Jarrow drug driver refused to give blood sample over ‘needle fear’ claims
Magistrates have banned a Jarrow man from the roads after he failed to provide a blood sample.
A suspected South Tyneside drug driver who claimed he was too scared of needles to give police a blood sample has been banned from the roads.
Alan MacLean, 47, tested positive in a mouth drug swipe for an illegal substance outside South Shields’ Customs House on Monday, June 30 last year.
It led to MacLean, of Lindisfarne Road, Jarrow, being arrested and taken into custody, prosecutor Mariam Odetoro told borough magistrates.
But he then failed to allow a blood sample to be taken to check if a prohibited drug was in his system, despite being warned failure would result in prosecution.
‘No evidence’ of needle fear
Ms Odetoro said there was no evidence of MacLean’s needle claim – and even pointed to the fact he has tattoos.
However, his defence solicitor, David Forrester, insisted MacLean’s medical notes referenced his fear in relation to a hospital admittance last year.
MacLean initially denied a charge of failing to provide a sample for analysis but was found guilty at a trial he failed to attend.
Ms Odetoro said: “The defendant did not attend his trial, and it was proven in his absence.
“On the day of the incident, police were on duty and in full uniform when they responded to the defendant’s vehicle being driven in the Jarrow area.
“An officer was aware that the defendant’s vehicle had avoided officers earlier.
“When it came to a natural stop at the Customs House, they detained him for the purpose of a search. A roadside sample was taken, which was positive.
“They then requested for a blood sample in custody. He failed to provide and was warned that he was liable to prosecution, but he failed.
“The crown says this was a deliberate refusal. In interview, the defendant said that the reason he was not providing a blood sample was that he was scared of needles.
“There’s no evidence of that provided to the crown. He has tattoos on his body. He was last before a court in 2011.”
Banned from the roads
Mr Forrester said: “On the day of the trial, the defendant was in contact with us.
“The case wasn’t called until 4.30pm. He had been in contact to say that he wasn’t well.
“He went to hospital a couple of days later. It would appear he was in a bad state in hospital.”
Of the fail to provide charge, he added: “It doesn’t appear that this was a deliberate failure or that no evidence was previously provided or needle phobia.
“It’s confirmed that on February 20, 2025, he was taken to hospital when he stepped off a motorbike. It says that he was needle phobic.
“There’s a substantial difference to having tattoos when younger than having someone put a needle in your veins.
“It doesn’t quite reach the burden of reasonable excuse. That’s not saying it was a deliberate refusal.
“He raised it with the police at the time when he did not wish to give a sample. There was a positive swipe at the roadside.”
Magistrates banned MacLean from driving for 12 months and fined him £180, with a £150 court costs and a £72 victim surcharge.