A former Hollyoaks actor has been handed an interim driving ban after being stopped by police in Chester.

Andrew Newton, 42, pleaded guilty at Chester Magistrates Court on Tuesday, October 22 to failing to provide custody officers with a blood sample for analysis.

The Heswall actor denied a charge of possessing the class A drug cocaine and a trial date was set to take place next year.

Prosecuting, Laura Ward said it was at about 10.30pm on September 20 when police stopped Newton on Long Lane, Upton, amid concerns for his driving.

He was arrested and, in custody, Newton refused to provide a blood sample, saying he had already had a number of vials of blood taken from him at hospital the previous day.

Defending, Richard Thomas agreed a short trial would be required for Newton.

Newton, who played Robbie Flynn in long-running soap Hollyoaks as well as characters in Coronation Street and Casualty in the 2000s, was unconditionally bailed and is next due to appear at Chester Magistrates Court on the afternoon of February 3, 2025.

Due to his guilty plea for the driving offence, magistrates imposed an interim driving ban and warned Newton that driving while disqualified is a serious offence.