A drink driver who killed a cyclist after celebrating his girlfriend's birthday has been jailed for four years.

Robert De'ath, 21, killed father-of-four Peter Ryczowskiafter he drank at least five pints and was more thant wice the legal limit.

Yesterday, Paul Harrison, prosecuting, told Oxford Crown Court De'ath did not see the father-of-four when he hit him at a chicane in Leach Road, Bicester, on January 20.

De'ath was speeding and only applied the brakes 54 metres after the collision, the court was told.

Police said the case is a warning to drink drivers during the festive season.

Mr Harrison told the court De'ath took a corner at about 49mph in a 30mph zone and veered on to the wrong side of the road.

He added: "Although there was street lighting and Mr Ryczowski was wearing a reflective jacket the defendant failed to see Mr Ryczowski before the impact."

De'ath stopped the car at least 64 metres further down the road and ran back after he realised he hit something and rang the emergency services.

He said: "It was quite obvious at the roadside the defendant was extremely distressed. He was crying out loud 'what have I done, I have killed him." A breath test taken by police showed De'ath had 78 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mgs.

Mr Ryczowski, of Austen Walk, Bicester, who was cycling home from his Ministry of Defence job, was pronounced dead at the scene.

In a police interview De'ath admitted drinking five to seven pints at The Star pub and Jeeves wine bar to mark girlfriend Carrie Stear's birthday.

Tony McGeorge, defending, said the couple only returned to his car because they had left house keys inside, then decided to drive home at about 2.30am.

He added: "What started as a celebration evening for his girlfriend's birthday and ended in this dreadful tragedy which should have been avoidable if he stuck to his original intention not to drive at all."

Sgt Bryan Smith, of Bicester Roads Policing, said: "This case highlights the disastrous cons- equences of drink driving."

De'ath, of Waddesdon, near Aylesbury, had admitted a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

He was sentenced to four years in jail and banned from driving for five years and must take an advanced driving test.

A charge of driving with excess alcohol will lie on the file.