A DEVOTED young dad who died when his motorbike crashed was more than twice the legal drink drive limit at the time of the tragedy, an inquest was told yesterday.

Tom Bubela lived in Fort View, Bassaleg, with his partner Lisa Smith and their two young children.

His father Michael told the hearing in Newport that the 28-year-old, who held a full driving licence for about ten years, passed his bike test the year before he died.

He said his son had gone for a drink on the afternoon of August 24 on his way back home from his work as a foreman fitter.

In a statement, Timothy Paul Edwards said he was driving down Chartist Drive in Rogerstone when he heard the sound of a motorbike accelerating.

He saw the bike overtake him as he approached a right hand bend.

Mr Edwards said the rider then appeared to swerve back suddenly because of an oncoming vehicle and clipped a kerb.

PC Paul Hawkins, from Gwent Police's collision investigation unit, said the motorcycle mounted the pavement before Mr Bubela lost control and collided with a barrier.

He calculated the pre-impact speed of the bike was a minimum of 44mph on a road with a 40mph limit.

Deputy coroner Wendy James said Mr Bubela had an alcohol level of 200 milligrammes in 100 millilitres of blood - two and a half times the legal drink drive limit of 80mg.

She added it was a fatal combination of drinking and driving. Mr Bubela's co-ordination and judgement was impaired as a result of the alcohol.

"On that summer's evening, he not only placed his own life at risk but the lives of other road users and pedestrians."

She recorded a verdict of misadventure.