Daltery Pearson was more than twice the legal drink-drive limit when his Ford Mondeo veered across the A1058 Coast Road in Wallsend.

The car crashed through barriers and into a lamppost near a row of bungalows in the early hours of January 19.

Pearson's friend and passenger Dane Naylor, 33, was taken to North Tyneside General Hospital after the crash where he was confirmed dead.

Now Pearson, 29, has admitted causing the crash which killed Dane Naylor.

At Newcastle Crown Court he pleaded guilty to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving and a separate count of careless driving.

He also admitted two charges of driving while disqualified and driving while over the legal alcohol limit.

Blood tests taken after the crash revealed he had 167mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The legal limit is just 80mg.

Kingsley Hyland, prosecuting at Newcastle Crown Court, said: "This is a case that has no winners, only losers.

"Dane Naylor lost his life, his parents lost their son, and his partner Samantha Hogg, who was five months pregnant at the time of the crash, lost the father of her child.

"The defendant's conviction is such that it will attract a significant term in custody.

"Two families have been torn apart by this."

Pearson, of Burnside Close, Cowpen, Blyth, was released on conditional bail and will re-appear at Newcastle Crown Court for sentence on Friday, October 3.

The court was told the two men had gone to Newcastle earlier in the evening and were on their way home when Pearson lost control of the Ford Mondeo.