A CHERITON man was more than twice the drink drive limit when he crashed his motorcycle and died, an inquest heard.

Jonathan Soper, 48, of Petersfield Road, was seen by a dog-walker as he swerved across the A272 near Bramdean before colliding with a telegraph pole near the war memorial on April 17 this year.

Ruth Coxon, also of Petersfield Road, told the hearing: “He was weaving and at first I thought 'Oh, silly youth!'

“He crossed the road lane and veered off the road and went into a telegraph pole and was thrown into the road.”

Ms Coxon called the emergency services and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance attended. Paramedics fought to save Mr Soper but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

At the inquest in Winchester on Wednesday (NOV 20), crash investigator PC Drew McDonnell said that driving conditions were good and there were no signs of mechanical failure in Mr Soper's BMW bike, or that he had tried to brake suddenly. He said he believed alcohol to be the primary cause of the crash.

Assistant coroner Mrs Sarah Whitby subsequently discounted the idea that Mr Soper had intended to kill himself.

Mrs Whitby recorded a verdict of accidental death.