A WHITE van driver who was high on drink and drugs when he crashed into a taxi has been jailed.

Jack Harkus-Hannigan’s passenger begged him to stop and let her out as he sped in a works' vehicle through the streets of Acomb, said Andrew Semple, prosecuting.

The 25-year-old electrician hit the kerb more than once and skidded into a parked car as he drove at over 30 mph before crashing into the taxi and running off. He left behind the taxi driver, who had a fractured rib and thumb, the taxi passenger and his own passenger.

He also left behind an open bottle of beer by the driver’s seat.

“What you did was highly irresponsible and dangerous,” the Recorder of York, Judge Stephen Ashurst, told him.

“You didn't stop to check on the welfare of those in the taxi or your own passenger and ran off, no doubt to save your skin.

"The public quite rightly expect that someone who drives a vehicle in a built-up area at night having been drinking and taken cocaine and who causes a collision that causes injury must expect to go to prison.”

He jailed him at York Crown Court for 12 months, banned him from driving for three years and six months and ordered him to take an extended driving test.

Harkus-Hannigan, of Redgrave Close, York, must also pay £180 court costs. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving on June 28, failure to stop and possessing cocaine.

Mr Semple said the taxi was written off at a cost of more than £3,000.

For Harkus-Hannigan, Kristian Cavanagh said he had long-standing problems with drink, drugs and gambling which meant he had built up debts.

The dangerous driving had cost him his job because he had been driving a works' van and he had been sacked for gross misconduct. Since then, he had got work through an agency working 45 hours a week.

He deeply regretted his actions and wanted help in dealing with his problems.

Mr Semple said Harkus-Hannigan had spent the evening in the pub and had taken some friends home, dropping them off at various places until one was left.

The police tried to stop him in Gale Lane, but he drove off at speed into Lowfields and Dijon Avenue before crashing and running off. He had cocaine on him when he was arrested.