A father battling depression after his wife committed suicide, twice refused to give police a breath sample after being stopped on suspicion of drink-driving.

Officers stopped John Marshall's Ford Mondeo close to Melksham town centre after the 47-year-old pulled out of a car park erratically.

Prosecutor Nicola Wootton told magistrates in Chippenham how 47-year-old Marshall, of Eden Grove, Whitley, was pulled over near Melksham Hospital after officers trailed him through the town centre on March 9.

After refusing to take part in the roadside breath test procedure, Marshall was arrested and taken to the custody unit at Melksham police station.

Marshall again refused to provide a breath sample and butted detention officer Rodney Say as he was being taken to a cell.

Defence solicitor John Elliott said Marshall admitted having an alcohol problem made worse by his reliance on a cocktail of drugs to battle depression.

Marshall's wife committed suicide last year, leaving him in sole charge of their 14-year-old daughter. The former heavy goods vehicle driver admitted two counts of failing to provide a breath sample and common assault at a hearing on Monday.

Magistrates' adjourned the case to April 6 for pre-sentence reports by Wiltshire Probation service.

Marshall faces a community punishment order and a minimum three-year driving ban after notching up his second drink-driving related conviction in four years.