A PROVISIONAL driver panicked when he was caught by cops behind the wheel of his dad's car with no insurance, no L plates and smelling strongly of alcohol.

Declan Paxton, 24, attempted to clamber into the back seat of the motor after he came to the attention of police in Maryhill's Shiskine Drive, but was thwarted when the officers spotted what he was up to.

The accused – who was smelling strongly of alcohol – refused to give a roadside breath test to ascertain his ability to drive. When transported to London Road police station, he again refused to give a specimen of breath for analysis.

Checks were made and it was discovered that the accused was driving with a provisional licence only – in which he had failed to display L plates – and without insurance.

Paxton was originally charged with driving without due care or attention – in which he mounted a kerb – and driving without lights on, but his not guilty pleas to both charges were accepted by the Crown.

At Glasgow Sheriff Court, he pleaded guilty to driving without insurance, failing to display L plates, and refusing to give two specimens of breath for analysis to ascertain his ability to drive on November 2 last year.

The defence agent stated that Paxton took his dad's car, but could offer no reasonable explanation as to why. Although not used as an excuse, it was noted that his behaviour could have been linked to his brother's suicide.

For failing to provide two specimens of breath for analysis, Sheriff Diana McConnell disqualified Paxton from driving for 12 months and fined him £250. His licence was also endorsed.

The accused, of Brassey Street, also had his licence endorsed for driving without insurance and failing to display L plates, however he avoided further punishment and was admonished on those charges.