A DIVORCEE, who spent Christmas with only his dog and two cats for company, drove home after drowning his sorrows in the pub.

Former church caretaker Robert Nash - who has never passed a driving test - drank ten pints in his local before jumping in his car.

The 60-year-old was jailed for 28 days and banned from driving for 30 months yesterday by Harrogate magistrates.

The court heard how Nash took the car he had bought a fortnight earlier to the Travellers Rest, Harrogate, on December 30.

On his way home to nearby Newby Crescent, his Nissan scraped a passing Land Rover, causing £266 damage. The driver followed Nash and challenged him when he stopped.

Sue Kerr, prosecuting, said Nash's response on being told he was blind drunk was: "Oh, it's Christmas."

He became aggressive when police arrived, telling them he had been "drunk and in a dream," she said.

Tests showed Nash was more than three times over the legal alcohol limit. He admitted drink-driving, having no insurance or full licence, and failing to stop after an accident.

Presiding magistrate Nancy Scruton told him prison was the only option for such a high alcohol reading.

In mitigation, Simon Berger said Nash's initial attempt at passing a driving test failed some years ago and he had not tried since. But two weeks before the incident he had bought the car after driving a friend's under legal tuition.

He had spent five hours in the pub, drinking ten pints, and intended walking his dog home but stupidly got in his car.

He had been "quite astonished" to find just how far over the limit he was.

Mr Berger said Nash, who sold the car three days later, was a gentle caring person, but one who could have a temper after drinking.

He said: "He is lonely and depressed. He is divorced and does not see his grown up family. He spent Christmas with his pets as companions."

Nash was ordered to pay £250 compensation and £55 costs