Former 'Corrie' star given suspended sentence
Bruce Jones has been given a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to dangerous driving.
The former ‘Coronation Street’ star – who played Les Battersby until 2007 – was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for 18 months, at Mold Crown Court, north Wales, after admitting to grabbing the steering wheel from his wife Sandra's hand as they drove along the A55 in Wales last August.
The actor – who enrolled in a 26-week rehab programme after the incident – 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 (€1,150) towards prosecution and his own costs.
Sentencing in court today, Recorder Simon 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 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.”
During the case, Sandra had given evidence about how the actor had subjected her to years of alcohol-fuelled physical and emotional abuse.
In mitigation, the 57-year-old star’s lawyer Dominic D'Souza said the actor will undergo 20 weeks of cognitive and behavioural therapy and monitoring once he completes his rehab programme.
He told the court: “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. He has let down those who stood by him. But he is determined to clean himself up and sort himself out.”
