A DRINK-DRIVER who used his car as a weapon to smash into a removal man who was loading his wife's belongings into a van has been jailed for two years.

Police had already been called because of the way Christopher Smith was driving around Royal Wootton Bassett before the early evening smash last summer.

And when the 35-year-old was arrested and found to be more than twice the limit, he 'almost certainly lied' to police about what he had drunk, a court heard.

Smith, now of Gloucester, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, actual bodily harm and drink-driving. He was behind the wheel of a Mitsubishi Shogun which left the innocent worker with a seriously injured hand, Swindon Crown Court was told.

He had been drinking before getting impatient with his wife as the removal men were putting things into a van on Buxton Way on August 16.

About half an hour earlier neighbours had called the police because he had been screeching around residential streets in both forward and reverse gears.

At one point he was seen to go along a pathway, having gone backwards at speed towards another pedestrian.

At 6.30pm Chris Wadley and his stepdad Alan Clutterbuck were loading the van when the car smashed into them, leaving Mr Wadley with a badly injured hand.

When Mr Clutterbuck, who was also injured though less seriously, told Smith to stay put he threatened to 'knock him out'.

Following his arrest he told officers he had drunk two pints and a bottle of Italian lager Peroni, but was found to be two-and-a-half times over the legal limit.

Tony Bignall, defending, said his client had mental health problems, had been diagnosed as bipolar, and had made attempts on his life.

He said he had not been in trouble with the police before and had a blameless driving record apart from a parking ticket.

Jailing him Judge Robert Pawson said "On August 16 last year you had been drinking. You almost certainly lied to the police when you said you had had a couple of pints and a Peroni.

"When breathalysed at the scene you were nearly two-and-a-half times the legal limit at about 6.30pm.

"That was the area where you had been living with your wife. The police had been called about half an hour earlier as a number of residents had seen you driving at high speed.

"You merit some sympathy for the mental health issues you suffered then and continue to suffer.

"You put intolerable pressure on your wife to hurry the removal staff who were moving your wife.

"Having driven like a maniac you drove towards the removal van at speed. You collided with it and caused serious injury to Christopher Wadley and also hurt Alan Clutterbuck

"You had deliberately used your car as a weapon.

"Having done what you did you did appear to recover your equilibrium and assist one of your victims.

"Alan Clutterbuck said 'You are not going anywhere, you are in big trouble'. You said you could knock him out. Hardly an unequivocal expression of remorse at the scene."

As well as jailing Smith for two years he also banned him from the road for six years and until he has passed an extended test.