A DRINK driver has admitted causing the death of a teenager after his car careered out of control and mounted a pavement.

Ghazanfar Mahmood, 21, was twice over the drink drive limit when he lost control of the Vauxhall Cavalier on a bend in Totteridge Road, High Wycombe, on January 18, Reading Crown Court heard on Wednesday.

Student Alex Shoulder was left unconscious in the road after he was struck by the car when walking back from the part-time job which he took to help support him at Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College.

He died in the intensive care unit of Wycombe Hospital the following day.

The 19-year-old victim was in his second year studying for a degree in media with film and video. His death sent shockwaves around the university campus, with colleagues paying tribute to the "dedicated and promising student".

Mahmood was immediately suspended from driving after he entered his guilty plea on Wednesday.

Judge Jonathan Playford warned Mahmood that he faced a spell behind bars.

He added: "There will be a pre-sentence report on the clear understanding that having been granted bail it is not an indication of the type of sentence or the length of a custodial one."

Mahmood, of Roberts Road, High Wycombe, admitted causing death by dangerous driving. An alternative charge of causing death by careless driving while under the influence of alcohol was dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Ben Gumpert, prosecuting, said the fact that Mahmood was twice over the drink drive limit was included in the more serious charge which the defendant had admitted.

Paul Wakeley, mitigating, told the court Mahmood had never been in trouble with the police before and did not have any penalty points on his driving licence.

He added: "He was 20 years old at the time of this offence and his frank admissions and confession in interview with the police have left him in no doubt that he will get a custodial sentence."

Mr Shoulder's father made the trip from the family's home in Billericay, Essex, to watch Mahmood admit to the crime.

Mahmood was released on bail for sentence at Reading Crown Court on July 20.