A drink driver was more than three and-a-half times over the legal limit when he ploughed into a rider and her horse.

Simon Merry, 40, who was already disqualified, jumped into his BMW car following a drunken argument with his partner and sped off at high speed, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Merry then narrowly avoided a collision with a taxi driver, Stephen Lynch, who was so concerned by the state of his driving that he decided to follow him.

Prosecuting, Kath Fagan said that having left his girlfriend's home in St George's Crescent, New Marske, East Cleveland, on the evening of July 12 last year, Merry drove at speeds of 60mph and on a couple of occasions forced vehicles to swerve to avoid him.

At one point he struck a horse and its rider, causing the rider to fall backwards, but merely carried on driving. Fortunately neither party were seriously injured.

Miss Fagan said that Merry eventually stopped his car in a picnic area. Mr Lynch, who was following behind, then approached the car before taking away the ignition keys.

Miss Fagan said that when Merry was arrested by police he gave a false name. She said he gave a positive breath test of 120mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

Johnny Walker, for Merry, of Byland Close, Redcar, said he had drunk a large amount of alcohol on the day and had stupidly decided to drive to a local wooded area to calm down.

Merry admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, perverting the course of justice, driving with excess alcohol, failing to stop and having no insurance. He received 18 months jail from Recorder Michael Swift who said he had driven appallingly.

The judge also said he would award Mr Lynch £500 from public funds.