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Ex-soap star's suspended sentence | Ex-soap star's suspended sentence |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Former Coronation Street actor Bruce Jones, who played Les Battersby, has received a suspended prison sentence for dangerous driving. | Former Coronation Street actor Bruce Jones, who played Les Battersby, has received a suspended prison sentence for dangerous driving. |
Jones, 57, of Alderley Edge, Cheshire, was drunk and grabbed the steering wheel from wife Sandra as they drove along the A55 to Abersoch, Gwynedd. | Jones, 57, of Alderley Edge, Cheshire, was drunk and grabbed the steering wheel from wife Sandra as they drove along the A55 to Abersoch, Gwynedd. |
Under his real name, Ian Roy Jones, he previously admitted the charge. | Under his real name, Ian Roy Jones, he previously admitted the charge. |
He was sentenced at Mold Crown Court to eight months in prison suspended for 18 months. | He was sentenced at Mold Crown Court to eight months in prison suspended for 18 months. |
A charge of common assault has also been ordered to lie on file. | A charge of common assault has also been ordered to lie on file. |
Jones was drunk and shouted "I'll kill us both" as his wife drove a Mercedes along the A55 dual carriageway near Holywell, Flintshire, last August. | Jones was drunk and shouted "I'll kill us both" as his wife drove a Mercedes along the A55 dual carriageway near Holywell, Flintshire, last August. |
He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving a day after a jury heard his wife's evidence about how he subjected her to years of drink-fuelled physical and emotional abuse. | He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving a day after a jury heard his wife's evidence about how he subjected her to years of drink-fuelled physical and emotional abuse. |
He has let down those who stood by him. But he is determined to clean himself up and sort himself out Dominic D'Souza, defending barrister | He has let down those who stood by him. But he is determined to clean himself up and sort himself out Dominic D'Souza, defending barrister |
He has since vowed to overcome his drink problem and save his marriage. | He has since vowed to overcome his drink problem and save his marriage. |
Jones showed no emotion as Recorder Simon Medland passed sentence. | Jones showed no emotion as Recorder Simon Medland passed sentence. |
Mr Medland said: "You threatened to kill both you and your wife and you jerked the steering wheel up and down, causing the car to swerve within its lane. | Mr Medland said: "You threatened to kill both you and your wife and you jerked the steering wheel up and down, causing the car to swerve within its lane. |
"It is fortunate for you and all others around you that your wife had her wits about her. | "It is fortunate for you and all others around you that your wife had her wits about her. |
"It is all too easy to see if the cards had fallen differently this might have ended in a fatality for you or your wife or for many other drivers." | "It is all too easy to see if the cards had fallen differently this might have ended in a fatality for you or your wife or for many other drivers." |
Rehab programme | Rehab programme |
Mr Medland was told Jones is in a 26-week rehab programme to tackle his addiction. | Mr Medland was told Jones is in a 26-week rehab programme to tackle his addiction. |
He added: "The efforts you are making to turn your life around are impressive." | He added: "The efforts you are making to turn your life around are impressive." |
Jones' barrister, Dominic D'Souza, said his client is four weeks into a six week residential stay at a rehab clinic. | Jones' barrister, Dominic D'Souza, said his client is four weeks into a six week residential stay at a rehab clinic. |
Following that he will undergo 20 weeks of cognitive behavioural therapy and monitoring. | |
Mr D'Souza said: "He is, for the first time in 20 years, beginning to acknowledge his alcohol problems." | Mr D'Souza said: "He is, for the first time in 20 years, beginning to acknowledge his alcohol problems." |
'Remarkable tolerance' | 'Remarkable tolerance' |
He added: "He apologises, primarily to his wife, and he has now got some insight as to how inappropriate his behaviour was. | He added: "He apologises, primarily to his wife, and he has now got some insight as to how inappropriate his behaviour was. |
"His wife is a woman of remarkable tolerance. | "His wife is a woman of remarkable tolerance. |
"He has let down those who stood by him. | "He has let down those who stood by him. |
"But he is determined to clean himself up and sort himself out." | "But he is determined to clean himself up and sort himself out." |
Jones was also ordered to do 100 hours unpaid work and must complete a 12-month supervision order. | Jones was also ordered to do 100 hours unpaid work and must complete a 12-month supervision order. |
He was disqualified from driving for 18 months and must pay a total of £1,000 towards prosecution and his own costs. | He was disqualified from driving for 18 months and must pay a total of £1,000 towards prosecution and his own costs. |
The court previously heard how Jones was two-and-a-half times the drink-drive limit when the incident occurred, causing the car to swerve. | The court previously heard how Jones was two-and-a-half times the drink-drive limit when the incident occurred, causing the car to swerve. |
Mrs Jones steadied the car and stopped safely at a nearby pub. | Mrs Jones steadied the car and stopped safely at a nearby pub. |
She had told the court her husband had had a drink problem for years. | She had told the court her husband had had a drink problem for years. |
Jones was almost half way through his trial last month when the jury was discharged because of a legal issue. | Jones was almost half way through his trial last month when the jury was discharged because of a legal issue. |
He had the option of going for a retrial but decided against it - not wanting to force his long suffering wife to give evidence again, his barrister said. | He had the option of going for a retrial but decided against it - not wanting to force his long suffering wife to give evidence again, his barrister said. |