WELSH rugby legend JPR Williams sucked pennies in a police car in an attempt to cheat a drink-driver charge, a court heard today.

Former British Lions and Wales star JPR - a qualified surgeon - popped three pennies into his mouth when he was in the back of a patrol car.

The court heard he believed a "myth" that the copper in the pennies would lower the alcohol reading in a breathalyser test.

But police told him to stop sucking the coins - and he was yesterday banned from driving for 17 months.

Prosecutor Hannah Norton said: "While in the police car, Mr Williams had to be instructed twice to remove items from his mouth, those being three one penny coins.

Prosecutor Hannah Norton said: "While in the police car, Mr Williams had to be instructed twice to remove items from his mouth, those being three one penny coins.

"There is a myth that the copper from these coins can interfere with the breathalyser machine."

After the case, a spokesman for breath test makers AlcoDigital said: "This is a complete myth that sucking coins can affect a reading. These machines are pretty much fool-proof - sucking a copper coin will make no difference."

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