A TEENAGER who died after his motorbike crashed into a telegraph pole just metres from home was over the drink-drive limit, an inquest heard yesterday.

A TEENAGER who died after his motorbike crashed into a telegraph pole just metres from home was over the drink-drive limit, an inquest heard yesterday.

Simon Cain, 17, had been out drinking with friends in Earls Colne and went to meet his mother, Pat, who worked at an old people's home nearby.

When he was unable to find her, he drove home on his Honda 125cc Solo motorbike but came off in Colchester Road, White Colne, close to his home at about 2.30am. The West Ham United fan struck a telegraph pole.

He was rushed to Colchester General Hospital but died there later the same day with his parents at his bedside.

Essex Coroner's Court heard yesterday the popular youngster had not been speeding on the 30pmh stretch of road but was about one-and-a-half times over the drink-drive limit, “significantly” impairing his ability to ride.

His good friend Phillip Webb told the inquest they had been with a group of mates at the pub and all had about five or six pints. He warned Simon not to drive when they said goodbye.

Mr Webb told the inquest he walked home to White Colne but as he got closer to the village he saw the flashing lights of the emergency service vehicles at the scene of the accident on January 12, last year.

Pc Ian Donaldson said there was a mark where the motorbike struck the curb and deep gouge marks on the telegraph pole.

An alcohol reading showed 140microgrammes per 100 millilitres of blood and a low reading of THC, the chemical in cannabis and cannabis resin.

Essex Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Speaking afterwards Simon's dad, Derek, said his son had also been his best friend.

He said: “ He was a top boy and knew how to enjoy himself. He was very happy when he was out and about with his friends. He was a good son to have, he was like a mate.

“We had been told he had been drinking - we all make mistakes sometimes, but it cost him dearly. It is wrong to drink and drive, you can see the impact yourself.

“But we cannot understand how he came round all those bends, only to come off on a straight part of the road.”

His aunty, Maureen Smallwood, said Simon's death left a “large void” for his mother and father.

She said: “I will always think that there was something which ran into the road out in front of him. But like the coroner said, we will never know. We will always be wondering.”