A STUDENT who almost gave up on his A-Levels after his boyfriend suddenly died was thrilled to receive the highest grades in his college yesterday.

City of Oxford College student Ross Biddle was amazed to hear he achieved three A*s in his A-Levels.

The 19-year-old’s studies were hit hard in December 2014 after his boyfriend James Trickey suddenly died.

Mr Biddle said: “When James died I didn’t do any work for three months. I didn’t care about anything anymore.

“He changed my life in so many ways.

“He even gave me the confidence to do A-Levels. I can’t really put across how much I care about him, there’s nothing quite like losing the person you love and care about and connect with most in the world.”

Mr Trickey died, aged 22, after he was involved in a crash with a car while cycling in Peterborough two days before Christmas last year.

The couple, who had been together for a year-and-a-half, met when Mr Trickey moved from Cheltenham to study geography at the University of Oxford.

Mr Biddle, who lives in Didcot, said he found his exams less stressful than they should have been, because it meant he was too busy to think about the tragedy.

He said he was thrilled to have got three A*s, having only been hoping he would get at least one. But he added: “The last few months have been incredibly difficult. I’m much more proud of getting through the last few months than of a few letters on a sheet.”

The former Faringdon Community College pupil is going on to study biology at the University of Bristol.