A brothel customer ran into trouble after he tried to cheat a call girl and make off at speed, a court heard.

Nigel Nash, a convicted sex offender, jumped into his works van and immediately crashed into a parked car.

He was then arrested for drink-driving, dangerous driving and driving while disqualified.

The 34-year-old admitted the charges and was jailed for 16 months after a judge told him: "This case has an unedifying background of a visit by you to a brothel."

Maidstone Crown Court heard Nash, of Reginald Road, Maidstone, went to the brothel in Gravesend on September 9 last year.

Bridget Todd, prosecuting, said Nash asked for services but he did not have enough money to pay and asked if he could use a gold ring as a down payment.

As he was about to leave he asked for his money and the ring back, as well as other clients’ cash.

He became abusive and made threats. The woman called her husband, who was nearby. Nash then threatened him, warning: "I know where you live."

The husband told Nash to take his ring and go. He continued to make threats, saying he knew "loads of people in Gravesend".

Nash got into his van and hit a Corsa with a child, aged 18 months, in the back seat. The mother remonstrated with him but he drove off.

The prostitute’s husband got into his car and gave chase. The police were called and Nash was arrested. He was over the drink-drive limit.

Judge Philip Statman was shown CCTV of Nash’s van running into the rear of the Corsa.

Miss Todd said as well as being a banned driver and, therefore, not insured, he had in October 2002 been jailed for two-and-a-half years for indecent assault.

He was placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and then failed to inform the police when he moved from Bexleyheath.

Judith King, defending, said Nash fled because his brother was seriously ill and he did not want to go to prison. His father died while he was in jail previously.

"He has come to realise the root of his problems is drink," she said. "He has completed an alcohol awareness course in prison."

The judge said he bore in mind his brother’s health problems. "You do him no good with your continuing acts of misconduct," he said.

"You recognise you have a serious alcohol problem. You are trying to do something about it, I am told."

Nash was banned from driving for three years.