VOLUNTEER school run driver Jonathan Dobie has been jailed for six months after he admitted crashing a car in fog while over the drink drive limit eight days after magistrates banned him for driving with excess alcohol.

Swindon Crown Court heard the 27-year-old, of Goldsborough Close, Eastleaze, Swindon, admitted dangerous driving, driving with excess alcohol, driving while disqualified and without insurance.

Passing sentence Judge Thomas Longbotham told Dobie: "You can't flout the orders of the court. You had your chance by appearing once before the magistrates for an excess alcohol offence and you were returned your liberty on that occasion. Your behaviour on this second evening was very bad."

Prosecuting, Rob Welling, said Dobie received a 22 months ban, for driving with excess alcohol, by Swindon magistrates on December 5 last year.

"On December 13 he, a Mr James Brown and his girlfriend went to the pub in Cirencester," Mr Welling said. "The initial intent was to get a lift home from Mr Brown. But he decided to drink and they said they would get a taxi back. They drove on the A419 towards Swindon in the BMW borrowed by Mr Brown from his father, and Dobie was driving," he said. "Witnesses indicate he was driving at around 100mph in thick fog. Two drivers travelling south both indicate they were undertaken by the defendant."

Mr Welling described how Dobie came to grief at Turnpike roundabout.

He said: "The BMW went through a red light at high speed, collided with a traffic light on the roundabout and slewed sideways into a sign on the roundabout, and skidded before coming to rest. It seems there were minor injuries caused."

A blood test on Dobie revealed he had 187 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The limit is 80.

Defending, Marcus Davey said Dobie was genuinely sorry for his actions.

"The reality is that many people who've not had contact with the courts don't realise the enormity of their actions and just how serious the courts regard this sort of behaviour.

"He now does realise the seriousness, he has been chastened by his experience and it is highly unlikely he will be back before the courts."

Mr Davey added that Dobie, who had previously worked as a volunteer school driver, was a friendly, kind and liked man who had tried to take steps to address "what must have been" a drink problem.