Former Coronation Street actor Bruce Jones has been given a suspended prison sentence for dangerous driving after a drunken incident in which he grabbed the steering wheel of his wife's car and shouted, 'I'll kill us both'.
The 57-year-old, who played Les Battersby in the ITV1 soap, admitted the offence last month. The incident occurred on the A55 in north Wales last August while his wife Sandra was driving. Jones, who was drunk, yanked at the steering wheel, causing the car to swerve.
At Mold Crown Court today, Judge Simon Medland sentenced Jones to eight months in prison, suspended for 18 months. He also ordered him to complete 100 hours of unpaid work, a 12-month supervision order, and disqualified him from driving for 18 months. Jones must also pay £1,000 towards costs.
The judge told Jones: '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.'
Jones's barrister said the actor had pleaded guilty to avoid putting his wife through further distress. Jones is currently undergoing a 26-week rehabilitation programme to tackle his alcohol addiction, which the judge described as 'impressive'.
The court heard that Jones's drinking had cost him his role on Coronation Street in 2007 and left the family in debt, forcing them to sell their yacht. Jones, appearing under his real name Ian Roy Jones, has vowed to give up alcohol and save his marriage.
