Oxford United Football Club chairman Nick Merry has escaped a driving ban for failing to provide a breath sample at a police station.

Mr Merry, 46, had pleaded not guilty to failing to provide a test after he was stopped in August.

Today's trial at Oxford Magistrates' Court did not go ahead after the court was told by defence counsel Nick Freeman that police failed to carry out the correct statutory procedures.

Instead, Mr Merry pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of failing to provide a roadside sample.

District judge Brian Loosley ordered Merry to pay a £100 fine, pay £60 costs and endorsed his licence with four penalty points.