Bankrupt celebrity chef wrestled with breath test police

Celebrity chef John Burton Race was banned from driving today for refusing to give a breath test and resisting arrest.

Burton Race, 52, was pulled over for driving erratically in his BMW in the early hours of October 30 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 in the UK is 35.

Today at Newton Abbot Magistrates Court, in Devon, 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 (€1,503) and ordered to pay costs of £100 (€113).

He will pay the money in £125 (€141) 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.