A MAN who drove like 'a maniac' has been told by a judge that his sports car was 'too powerful' for him.

Darren Kilby slammed his TVR T350C into an electrician's van with such force that it was sent rolling down a verge at the side of the road.

And rather than get out of the high-end vehicle and check on the people in the van he sat in his car and downed a half a litre of whisky.

Tim Akers, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how the smash took place on the A419 near Cricklade, on the morning of Tuesday March 1 last year.

Shortly after 8am he said an electrician's van with two men in it were in the fast lane heading south in fairly heavy, rush hour, traffic.

The driver said he was doing about 50mph when he felt something smash into the rear of his panel van with such force he wasn't sure what size vehicle it was.

Other witnesses spoke of the TVR passing on the inside at speeds of up to 80mph with the engine roaring like his foot was on the floor as he passed them.

And one told how they had seen the black 04-reg sports car weaving in and out of other traffic for two or three miles.

As a result of the crash the van was sent out of control and rolled down the verge landing on the driver's side.

The two men clambered free and went to the TVR, which had spun to a stop facing the wrong way, with the driver still sitting behind the wheel.

Mr Akers said they told how when confronted he raised his arms and shrugged his shoulders 'as if he didn't care of give a damn'.

He said when the police arrived quarter of an hour later they asked Kilby when he last had a drink, and he told them he had some beer the night before.

Kilby, of Hardwick, Gloucester, pleaded not guilty to a charge of dangerous driving but changed his plea to admit the charge on the day of trial.

The court heard that he admitted his guilt on the basis that he had not been drinking before the smash but downed half a bottle of scotch in the car awaiting the police.

Matthew Scott, defending, said his client had an unblemished driving record since an excess alcohol conviction in December 1997.

He said he worked around the world as a contractor in the mining industry and would have a driver when he was abroad.

"In the last 20 years of driving this is an isolated incident of bad driving," he said.

Passing sentence Judge Robert Pawson said: "You may consider yourself to be a good driver, most men do when they are asked, but that car is too powerful for you it seems to me.

"You were in a hurry, you were driving down the 419, it was raining, it was rush hour, witnesses describe the traffic as medium to heavy or heavy.

"You were frustrated and you weren't prepared to wait. You thought a different rule applied to you that morning on the 419 heading to Swindon.

"You were prepared to use the power of that car you had to drive, Mr Kilby, like a maniac."

He imposed seven month jail term, suspended for 18 months, fined him £1,500 with £1,200 costs and banned him from the road for two years and until Kilby passed an extended test.