A YORK Royal Marine Commando was nearly three times the drink-drive limit when the car he was driving left the road and ploughed into a tree, an inquest heard.

Tony Clarke, 23, of Osbaldwick, had survived a 13-week posting to Iraq and was enjoying a long weekend at home when the accident happened in the early hours of January 17.

Mr Clarke, a former pupil at All Saints' RC School, in York, was pronounced dead at the scene on the eastbound carriageway of the A64 near Tadcaster.

A machine gunner with the Royal Marines 42 Commando Unit, he was intending to stay the night at his friend Mark West's flat, in Kirkgate, Tadcaster.

But, the inquest heard, after a long drinking session, which went on and off from 4pm to 2am, Mr Clarke decided to drive back to York. The car he drove, a black Peugeot 206, belonged to his friend and fellow Royal Marine Christopher Taylor.

Mr Taylor gave the car keys to his girlfriend, Jodie, 22, the sister of Mr Clarke.

She then handed the keys to her brother because she only had a small handbag.

Mr Taylor and Jodie then got a taxi back to York, intending to pick up the car the following morning in Tadcaster.

North Yorkshire Coroner Geoff Fell said Mr Clarke was advised not to drive by both Mr West and his cousin, Ryan Broadhead, of Newlands Park Grove, York.

But Mr Broadhead finally agreed to get in the car because he did not know anyone else at the Tadcaster party.

Mr Fell recorded an accidental death verdict, saying: "The car did not belong to Mr Clarke and neither did he have consent to drive it.

"He had limited driving experience and had consumed a substantial amount of ale over a long period. That was bound to affect his judgement and his ability to react to the situation.

"In short, it was an accident waiting to happen."

Mr Clarke's girlfriend, Becky Kidd, 20, lives in Tadcaster, and his father, Keith Clarke, is from Tang Hall.

Mr Clarke was part of the first coalition forces to invade southern Iraq, helping to take the Al Faw peninsula in March last year.

His unit then went on to help with the Iraq peacekeeping mission.

Paying tribute to his son earlier this year, Mr Clarke (Sen) told the Evening Press: "I'll miss his big smile. I'll just try to remember the good times we had."

Updated: 10:16 Wednesday, December 01, 2004