A Russian man arrested as a suspected drink-driver told stunned officers he was Vladimir Putin's cousin.

Sergejs Tencs also tried to intimidate the officers by claiming he was in the Russian Mafia and knew people who could harm them after refusing to be breathalysed.

Sussex Police had been called by a member of the public who saw Tencs getting into a silver BMW in Marine Parade, Eastbourne, and then revving the engine shortly after midnight on Saturday.

When officers arrived Tencs was sitting in the passenger seat and claimed that the driver had run off.

The 31-year-old refused to be breathalysed and then told the officers even if they charged him he would not turn up to court and would go back to Russia.

Because of the threat not to answer bail, Tencs, of Colonnade Gardens, Eastbourne, was remanded in custody to appear at Brighton Magistrates' Court.

On Monday he pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis and was banned from driving for six months, made the subject of a 30-day curfew and ordered to pay £40 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

Superintendent Jane Derrick said: "The behaviour of Tencs might appear funny if his actions had not been so dangerous.

"If the member of the public had not alerted us to him, Tencs could have driven away and put himself and other road users in danger.

"We will never know quite how drunk he was as he refused to provide a sample for analysis but the fact that he was slumped in the car when he was found, was slurring his wounds and struggled to take off his shoes and socks at the police station gives some indication of how unfit to drive he was.”

People in Sussex can text officers on 65999 with the details of people they suspect of drink or drug driving or visit www.operationcrackdown.co.uk.