A BOSS at a recession-hit Derbyshire engineering business has been banned from the roads for refusing to take a breath test.

Richard Strutt, a director of family firm Strutt Engineering, of Darley Dale, was arrested on January 29.

Magistrates heard police were investigating an incident when an officer saw Strutt, 49, park a Toyota Landcruiser outside a shop in Crowstones Road, Darley Dale.

He looked unsteady as he walked past the officer and did not answer when twice asked for his name.

The officer then took hold of Strutt's arm to detain him, believing him to be drunk.

"The defendant was very argumentative," said Peter Bettney, prosecuting.

"His speech was slurred and he kept asking for his attorney"

Strutt declined to take a breathalyser test and was taken to Buxton police station, where he refused to give a sample on an Intoxilyzer machine and would not answer any questions.

Strutt, of The Bungalow, Dale Road North, Darley Dale, admitted failing to provide a breath specimen for analysis.

He had no previous convictions.

Chesterfield magistrates fined him £265, with £85 costs, and imposed a 20-month driving ban, to be cut to 15 months if he passes a rehabilitation course.

His solicitor, Kirsten Collings, said there was no evidence of bad driving and Strutt denied being heavily intoxicated.

She said: "He is diagnosed with quite serious depression.

"His dosage had been doubled, which may have affected his appearance that day."

She told the court Strutt had been stopped at the wheel three times earlier that month, had given breath tests and felt he was being victimised by police.

"He realises he has a victimisation complex," said Mrs Collings.

The court heard that he owned part of the company, along with two brothers.

He was one of two directors not currently working as there was insufficient money to pay him and so he was living on savings.

"Strutt Engineering is a manufacturing company and has been hit particularly hard.

"He is also recently divorced, which is financially and emotionally costly. He has hit hard times," added Mrs Collings.