A DRIVER crashed into the back of a van in Worcester and then drove at the other motorist, knocking him down as he fled the scene.

William Morgan, who described himself in court as "phenomenally stupid", was about two-and a-half times the drink-drive limit when he ploughed into the back of a van on the sliproad of the M5 at junction six (Worcester north) before fleeing the scene, knocking the other driver over with his car and running a red light to get away.

The 42-year-old crashed into another vehicle later that day at junction 38 of the M4, in South Wales, a matter for which he has already been convicted by magistrates who had not known about the earlier crash.

He admitted to police he had drunk seven cans of lager on his journey, Worcester Crown Court was told.

Morgan admitted dangerous driving when he appeared before Judge Robert Juckes QC.

The court heard that Morgan, of Maes Y Gollen, Sketty, Swansea, was driving from Peterborough to Swansea on May 1, 2015 when he crashed into the back of a stationary VW Transporter on the sliproad, damaging both vehicles.

The driver, Derek Pullen, who was not injured, got out to examine the damage to his van, described as his 'prize possession' by Robert Morgan-Jones, prosecuting.

Mr Morgan-Jones said: "He noticed the driver smelled of alcohol, was unsteady on his feet and unable to walk properly.

"Mr Pullen decided he wanted to go back to his van and consider how best to proceed and heard the revving of the vehicle driven by this defendant.

"Mr Pullen was standing in front of the defendant's vehicle and the defendant continued to drive forwards, knocking Mr Pullen off balance and causing him to end up on his bottom."

Morgan ran a red light in his haste to get away.

The crash happened at 2.35pm but another followed at junction 38 of the M4 at 5.45pm the same day when he struck the back of a Ford Mondeo in heavy traffic.

A roadside breath test revealed 91mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg/100ml.

However, because it was a roadside test rather than one conducted at the station it was not admissible, although was considered as an aggravating feature of the case.

Marc Davies, defending, said: "He said to me this morning he had been phenomenally stupid and phenomenally lucky. It could so easily have been worse. It's by luck that he's not in more trouble than he is."

Mr Davies said Morgan could be responsible, providing care to his partner's brother who wrote a letter on his behalf to the court.

Judge Juckes said: "He (Mr Pullen) went to speak on the phone and you thought you'd better clear out.

"To do that, because he was standing in front of your car to keep you there, you drove through him so he was knocked to the ground. He was not injured but you took a huge risk that he might be."

Morgan was sentenced to 12 months in prison of which he will serve six. He was banned from driving for three years and six months so that he will serve a three year ban upon release.

He must also complete an extended driving retest.