A MAN who pretended to have coronavirus after failing to provide breath samples to police avoided jail yesterday.

Comitat Rostas, 29, was alleged to be drink driving by officers in Glasgow's Cathcart on May 3, 2021.

He was arrested and advised police he had no symptoms of the virus.

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Following his failure to give officers two samples of breath, Rostas told officers that he had symptoms as well as a positive test.

But, it was later discovered that Rostas had never taken a PCR test.

Rostas pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.

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He also admitted failing to co-operate with a breath test without a reasonable excuse.

Sheriff Johanna Johnston QC put Rostas, of the city’s Govanhill, on a tag keeping him indoors between 7pm and 7am.

He was also placed under supervision for 12 months, ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work and disqualified from driving for 18 months.

The court heard officers on patrol had reason to stop Rostas' vehicle at 1am.

Officers believed Rostas was under the influence of alcohol during their conversation.

After the roadside process was carried out, Rostas was arrested.

Prosecutor Laura Bradley said: "He was asked if he had symptoms of coronavirus or was a contact with someone infected and he replied 'No, no coronavirus'."

No PPE or a caged vehicle was required as a result and he was taken to a police station.

He was later asked to provide two samples of breath for testing which he purposefully failed to do properly.

As a result, he was charged and made no reply.

Rostas was told he would be kept in a cell overnight before his court appearance the following day.

Ms Bradley said: "Rostas then said he had symptoms of coronavirus and he had been unwell for some time.

"He said he had been tested and when asked for the results he replied in English 'Not good'."

Ms Bradley informed the court that an NHS check revealed there was "no trace of Rostas doing a PCR test."

David O'Hagan, defending, told the court: "He is working in a car wash and he lives with his parents and has a two-year-old daughter."