A DANGEROUS driver who was so intoxicated he couldn’t count his cash at a drive through restaurant has been jailed for nine months.

James Harding of Groundwell Road, Swindon, had been spotted tailgating a taxi and weaving all over the road before stopping to buy a burger in the early hours.

But when he was unable to count his cash and McDonald’s staff could see an open vodka bottle in the car, they stalled him and called the police.

And when officers arrived the 27-year-old claimed he had been asleep on the back seat and a mate, who ran away, had been driving the car.

Then when he came up for trial last summer he lied saying he was in hospital undergoing heart surgery, when in reality he was trying to dodge justice.

Tim Akers, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court that a taxi driver heading east out of Bath spotted a Citroen C2 driving all over the road.

The cabbie said the car was swerving across the carriageway narrowly avoiding parked vehicles and veering close to oncoming traffic.

He said the vehicle stopped briefly in Box and then continued behind him on the A4 travelling so close he feared that it would hit his taxi if he braked.

Mr Akers said the cars went into Chippenham where the Citroen was seen going in to the McDonald’s drive through.

He said after ordering food the driver was unable to count out his change, handing it over to the staff to take payment and hand him back the rest.

After spotting a half drunk bottle of Grey Goose vodka the worker asked the driver if he had been drinking, to which his passenger replied he had ‘only had a couple’.

He was told to pull over into a parking bay and the food would be brought to him but instead the police were called.

As he was arrested he became aggressive and said: “The bloke who was really driving has run off: he looked just like me.”

When he was taken to the police station Harding refused to provide a sample of breath and was abusive to officers.

In interview he told police he had been lying down on the back seat with Chris Moran driving and Joe Moran in the passenger seat.

He claimed Chris ran off before officers arrived and he had only got in the front seat to get his food, but the other man told police he was not there.

But Harding admitted dangerous driving, no insurance and driving without a licence when asked to give pleas.

Mike Pulsford, defending, said his client accepted he was under the influence at the time, but otherwise the driving was not the worst.

He said he was now working for Honda, through an agency, and his partner is due to give birth later in the year.

Passing sentence Recorder Robert Pawson said: “The public would be amazed if, given the way you behaved, you didn’t go straight to prison.”

He imposed a nine-month jail term with an 18-month ban from driving to start when he is released and an extended test.