A DRIVER was almost twice over the legal drink-drive alcohol limit and travelling at up to 80mph when he lost control of his car in Boscombe on September 20 last year.

Polish national Jacek Myskow, 21, who had bought the silver Vauxhall Vectra just three weeks earlier, suffered fatal injuries in the early morning crash on Christchurch Road.

His passenger Robert Krol, 32, was seriously injured and is now recovering in Poland, a Bournemouth inquest heard.

The hearing was told how machine operator Mr Myskow was being followed by a marked police patrol car when tragedy struck.

Acting sergeant Philip Ferns said he had spotted Mr Myskow accelerating away and travelling along Gladstone Road at speed, adding: "I believe he was deliberately trying to make off. Our vehicle was more than 100 yards behind and we lost sight of it. As I came over the hill I saw the vehicle on its roof and two people lying on the road, which was cluttered with debris."

PC Lee Crawford said Mr Myskow was still breathing at the scene. He was certified dead at Poole Hospital a short time later.

A post-mortem examination showed he had suffered massive internal injuries.

Blood tests revealed he was almost twice over the legal drink-drive limit.

In a statement, eyewitness Andrew Hart said the Vectra had been travelling at up to 80mph and the police car "hadn't been putting any pressure" on it.

Mr Myskow had moved to an address in Boscombe just days earlier and passed a Polish driving test at the age of 18.

No defects were found in his vehicle and collision investigator PC Philip Purvis concluded that Mr Myskow had been travelling at a speed of at least 66mph when he collided with a wall and pillar.

Recording an accidental death verdict, East Dorset Coroner Sherrif Payne said: "Mr Myskow may well have been concerned he would be stopped by police for driving while under the influence of alcohol, which affects judgement."