A STRESSED student who was treble the drink drive limit crashed his car after boozing following a busy day.

Jack Bicheno was planning to drive from Essex University in Wivenhoe back to his home in Benfleet.

But he got just three miles into the 40 mile trip when he clipped the kerb in Cowdray Avenue, Colchester.

The 24-year-old was found sitting in the Vauxhall Corsa - which was in the middle of the carriageway - slumped forward by an off-duty detention officer at 1.30am.

He was not injured.

They called police and Bicheno was taken to custody.

He had a breathalyser test which showed he had 107mcgs of alcohol per 100mls of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Bicheno admitted drink driving at Colchester Magistrates' Court following the incident in February.

Stephen Levy, mitigating, said Bicheno was struggling to juggle the demands of his degree, part-time job and young family.

He said: "He was going through a very difficult time with regards to his personal life.

"Things came to a head that day and he decided to have one drink to wind down.

"He left university at 5pm and one drink led to another which led to the next.

"He found himself late at night needing to get back home but felt fine.

"He only got a very short distance, clipped the kerb which resulted in him not being able to move the vehicle.

"Straight away he put his hazards on and called his mum.

"She was on her way and coming to pick him up and try to sort out the recovery of the car."

Bicheno, who is working towards a degree in marine biology, has now taken steps to better manage his workload, given up his job and moved back in with his parents.

Magistrates told him it was more by luck than judgement that he did not have a more serious accident.

He was banned from driving for two years and two months and ordered to do 60 hours of unpaid work.

Bicheno, of Saxonville, Benfleet, must also pay £170 in court charges.