Ban and £1,122 bill for councillor held after mulled wine at bash

Former Tory failed to give blood or breath after arrest on suspicion of drink-driving

- Sentinel Reporter

A CITY councillor has been convicted of failing to give a blood sample after being stopped by police on suspicion of drink-driving.

Rachel Kelsall, councillor for Hanford, Newstead and Trentham, was pulled over as she was driving away from Stoke Civic Centre on December 5 following a tip-off.

The 54-year-old had been attending a city council reception but insisted she had only had a small glass of mulled wine. Kelsall was arrested after she was unable to give a roadside breath sample, despite seven attempts.

In custody, Kelsall was again unable to give a breath sample, and consented to have a blood specimen taken instead. But after 45 minutes and three attempts, a nurse was unable to draw any blood, and Kelsall was subsequently charged with failing to provide a specimen for analysis.