A MAN who defied a court ban to drive while nearly four times the alcohol limit was jailed yesterday after being told the public needed protection from the dreadful and dangerous threat he posed.

Harrogate magistrates heard how Nicholas Coope, who had been banned from driving for three years in 2001 for driving with excess alcohol, had been at the wheel of a car which crashed into the back of another car at the junction of West Park and Victoria Avenue, Harrogate, on October 12.

The other driver called the police who found that not only was Coope, 33, contravening his ban, but he was well over the drink-drive limit.

Peter Scott, prosecuting, said tests showed Coope, of Mayfield Grove, Harrogate, had an alcohol level of 139 milligrammes, compared with the legal limit of 35.

In mitigation, David Camidge said Coope, the sole carer for his terminally ill grandfather, was anxious to avoid a prison sentence which would undo the work he had done voluntarily towards overcoming his drink problems.

Coope, who had sold his car, had sought help from the Harrogate Alcohol and Drugs Agency among others.

"He has made massive inroads towards addressing his problem," said Mr Camidge.

"He accepts he has a lot of work to do but it is apparent from talking with the various agencies that he had shown a degree of motivation and maturity."

Court chairman Pauline Ward jailed Coope for three months and imposed a five-year driving ban after he had pleaded guilty to drink-driving, driving while disqualified and not having any insurance.

Mrs Ward told him: "It is a sad, sad business but it poses a dreadful and dangerous threat to other road users. This is so serious that only a custodial sentence can be imposed."