A serial drink-driver who killed a teenage moped rider in a crash on Christmas Eve was facing jail today.

Estate agent Shamsi Ahmed was one-and-a-half times over the limit when he crashed his car into the back of the 50cc moped ridden by 16-year-old David Ross.

David, from Cramlington, Northumberland, died at the scene from head injuries when he was hit by Ahmed's Rover last year. At an earlier hearing Ahmed, 43, of Westmorland Road, Newcastle, admitted causing death by dangerous driving before he was due to stand trial at Newcastle Crown Court.

Adjourning the case for medical reports, Judge John Milford QC told the tattooed divorcee: ''Well, understand this - the sentence I am going to pass on you will inevitably result in a substantial prison sentence.''

The teenager had been riding home along the A189 Spine Road in Cramlington on his new moped when Ahmed, who had drunk several glasses of wine, hit him from behind.

Ahmed, who was arrested at the scene, was found to have 55mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

The court was told that Ahmed had been charged with drink-driving and bailed after being arrested on October 21, 2003 - just nine weeks before the fatal crash that killed David.

Earlier this month Newcastle magistrates banned the Blyth-based estate agent, who has a history of alcohol abuse, from driving for three years for the offence.

Five years ago he was convicted by magistrates in St Albans after being caught drink-driving in 1996 - a charge he attempted to dodge by fleeing to the US.

Ahmed was due to be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court.