A DRINK-driving "lunatic" has been jailed after fighting with his half-naked passenger - while on the move.

Drunk Michael Hart then launched into a high-speed car chase with a learner driver who had been forced to overtake his Ford XR2, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard.

Glyn Samuel, prosecuting, said the learner driver watched Hart's back seat passenger strip off and start the fight before the door flew open and the half-dressed man fell out.

The man - naked from the waist up - then tried to jump into the learner's car, but the doors were locked.

He told the court the XR2 swerved across the central white line on the A442 south of Bridgnorth, missing on-coming vehicles by inches.

The learner driver overtook Hart.

But the 26-year-old, of Broad Street, Kidderminster, tailgated him at speeds of up to 70mph before swerving across to the opposite verge.

A police patrol officer managed to stop Hart who he said had driven "appallingly".

The officer - with 17 years' experience - claimed he had never seen anyone so drunk behind the wheel and could not perform a roadside breath test.

Graham Henson, defending, said Hart had a drink problem and was trying to sort himself out with the help of a friend.

"He knows he deserves what he gets," he said.

"The whole incident was totally irresponsible and could have had dreadful consequences."

Judge Michael Mander jailed Hart for two years and banned him from the road for 10.

"If I did not send you to prison the public would think I was bereft of my senses," he said.

"This was a dreadful piece of absolute lunatic driving."