Celebrity chef wrestled with breath-test police

Celebrity chef John Burton Race has been banned from driving for refusing to give a breath test and resisting arrest in Dartmouth.

Burton Race, 52, was pulled over for driving erratically in his BMW in the early hours of 30 October as he drove home from work at his New Angel restaurant in Dartmouth.

But he refused to provide a breath sample when requested three times and wrestled with two police officers as they tried to arrest him.

He eventually provided a sample that showed he had 57 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

At Newton Abbot Magistrates Court, he pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol and resisting or obstructing a constable in the execution of their duty.

He was banned from driving for 14 months, fined £1,330 and ordered to pay costs of £100.

He will pay the money in £125 instalments having recently been declared bankrupt after a divorce.

Burton Race was also given the option to reduce his driving ban to 14 weeks by completing a drink-driving rehabilitation course.

The Michelin star chef was declared bankrupt last year following a multi-million pound divorce from wife Kim.

He has starred in the TV shows French Leave and Return of the Chef, as well as Britain's Best Dish and I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here in 2007.

He now lives with partner Suzi Ward at her home in Strete, near Dartmouth.