A MAN locked up after appearing in court drunk was jailed for three months yesterday.

Philip Winship admitted perverting the course of justice after using his brother's name when he was charged with drink-driving.

The hearing was postponed on Tuesday when the 30-year-old appeared at Teesside Crown Court and was deemed under the influence of alcohol.

He attempted to get into the dock, but instead sat on the court usher's bench.

When asked: "Are you Philip Winship?", he replied "no".

Judge Peter Fox ordered him to be remanded in custody and to be checked by a police surgeon before returning yesterday.

The court heard Winship, of Church Street, Hartlepool, was stopped by police for driving while over the alcohol limit in April 1998.

He gave his brother's details at the scene, and appeared in court and was convicted under his false identity.

He was fined £100 and banned from driving for 18 months, but failed to pay the fine and a warrant was issued for his arrest, in his brother's name.

His crime came to light when his brother wrote to the DVLA for a new driving licence and learned he had received an endorsement.

Aisha Wadoodi, for Winship, said her client had suffered from an alcohol problem since he was 16.

She apologised for his behaviour earlier in the week, saying it was due to a combination of alcohol and anti-depressants.

Judge Fox said perverting the course of justice was a serious crime and that his brother had narrowly avoided being wrongfully arrested.

He said: "You know what it is like in custody because you were taken there when you came into my court drunk."

Sending him to prison, he said: "You won't be able to get a drink. When you come out you should stay off it."