A former car meet organiser has been banned from driving for after failing to provide a blood sample on two occasions and threatening a police officer. 

Bradley Warren, from Haig Close, Broome Manor, was recently convicted of two counts of failure to provide and one count of using threatening behaviour and sentenced for this on July 31. 

But his defence counsel, Luke Jameson, indicated on his behalf that this conviction would be appealed because evidence relating to a phobia of needles was ignored. 

On September 30, 2023, the 31-year-old defendant was at a car meet he had organised with over 100 cars and 500 people when officers from Wiltshire Police attended.

Keith Ballinger, prosecuting, said: "Mr Warren has taken issue with the officer being there and made a number of comments, calling him a ‘muppet’ and adding "Is that what you do barge into kids, take your f****** vest off and we’ll have it out like men, do you think you’re billy big bollocks,  I’ll tell you what, you’re a p****, that vest makes you feel big, that ain’t s*** mate.

Following this, Warren was pulled over by police on two occasions. 

On October 26, Warren was driving a Volkswagen caddy, being driven on Great Western Way when he was pulled over. Officers noticed he had larger pupils and a roadside drugs wipe was carried out which had a positive reading of cannabis.

Warren was arrested and at the station refused to provide a specimen, saying he had a needle phobia, but a healthcare professional ruled this unlikely because he 'had tattoos'. 

He was stopped again on November 17, driving the same vehicle. Once again officers reported a smell of cannabis but this time Warren refused to provide a roadside drug wipe, was arrested, again, and refused to provide a sample of blood at the station, saying he had a needle phobia.

Mr Jameson said it was in his opinion, unbelievable, that Warren had been convicted at trial because evidence provided by a consultant doctor confirming he had a classic case of needle phobia was dismissed. 

He argued that a tattoo needle and an injection needle drawing blood were very different things. 

He also said that Warren needed a 'life-saving' operation but had refused treatment because of his phobia, and he also required dental treatment but had refused that, with his dentist writing a letter to the court. 

He said: "On that basis, we are appealing, I am extremely surprised by that result.

"So I would request the sentence is suspended until the appeal."

He added: "The decision was completely wrong in that trial, and it has caused Mr Warren significant distress and depression."

The court heard that Warren had been leader of the Swindon car meets for a while, but had removed himself because of his arrest.

It also heard that he was struggling financially after losing his job running a car detailing business following an interim driving ban given to him in May 

Magistrates deliberated but decided not to suspend the sentencing. 

They said: "Mr Warren, we have taken some time to decide how we’re going to deal with this.

"The failure to provide is serious enough for a community order

"And the public order offence, we will sentence separately, with a fine of £120

"For the failure to provide, there will be a fine for each of those of £180 within a community order, you will serve a 12 month community order.

"You will also have to pay a £114 surcharge and £700 towards costs

"We’re not going to suspend the order, if you appeal you appeal, if you don’t you don’t."

He was also banned from driving for 16 months, leading to outbursts from him.

"So I can't work then," he said.