A speeding bus driver who scrolled through his phone at the wheel before seriously injuring a pedestrian in Newcastle has been jailed. Liam Beamson, 27, of Prospect Avenue, Seaton Delaval, Northumberland, was sentenced to 27 months in prison and banned from driving for three years after pleading guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that on May 8 2024, just before midnight, Beamson was driving an empty bus along Shields Road in Byker, near its junction with Depot Road, after dropping off his last passenger. Travelling at 45mph in a 30mph zone, he repeatedly looked away from the road to view TikTok and even sprayed himself with deodorant at one point. His eyes were off the road 63 times, and he failed to see a man crossing the road until less than two seconds before hitting him. Despite braking, he was still above the speed limit when he knocked him over.
Footage shows dangerous inattention
The Crown Prosecution Service released dash cam and cab footage showing Beamson's behaviour in the 15 minutes leading up to the collision. Prosecutors said his attention appeared to be "at times, everywhere but where it should be, which is on the road ahead". Beamson told police he had been looking for a good song and admitted it was "absolutely ridiculous". He later said he had been scrolling through TikTok at the wheel.
Judge Edward Bindloss told him: "There was a prolonged period of inattention on your behalf. You can clearly be seen using a mobile phone in your cab, regularly checking it and looking at it with your eyes off the road." He added: "There are periods where there's one hand on the wheel and periods where there are no hands on the wheel. You are reaching down for something at one point and sprayed deodorant on yourself at one point."
Victim's life-changing injuries
The victim, 33, who had been out with his friend but was not intoxicated, was left with fractures to his eye socket and cheek bone and wounds to his forehead and mouth. More than two years later, he continues to suffer the devastating and life-changing consequences of the collision. His father said he has been "totally changed" by it, with memory loss, anger issues and increased anxiety. He keeps repeating himself, even forgot the death of his mum, has missed meetings and social events, has to write things down, and lost his job as a chef because he couldn't remember how to do it.
Three seconds before the collision, the bus was doing 45mph as Beamson looked down towards his phone. Shortly after, the bus was doing 43mph as the victim was crossing the road. Two seconds before hitting him, he was still looking at his phone. He finally saw the victim and braked 1.7 seconds before impact, by which time it was too late and he was still doing 32mph when he hit him.
Judge: 'Mentally checked out'
Judge Bindloss said: "Your prolonged and dangerous inattention and the speed of this vehicle made avoiding this collision impossible. This was not a small call, this was not a Fiat Uno, this was a double decker bus and you are a professional driver and you should have increased standards of driving, not ones that fall far below the expected standard." He added: "It seems to me you had mentally checked out for the night - your last passenger had got off and you were driving back to the depot. You were paying little attention to the road ahead. That would be bad enough, but you were speeding as well."
When interviewed by police, Beamson said he had "f***** up massively" and added: "I don't know what I was thinking. I've hit someone. I can't tell you how sorry I am." Asked what he was doing, he said: "I think I was just looking for a good song. Absolutely ridiculous like." When later talking to probation, he said he was looking at TikTok.
The court heard Beamson had received penalty points and then a six month driving ban in 2024 and 2025 for failing to disclose the identity of a driver, but he has no previous criminal convictions. He was described in references and by his family as a selfless person who is polite and kind with a good work ethic, and he was said to be remorseful.
Mark Harrison, defending, said Beamson had worked as a bus driver for around five years with no prior issues with his driving. Mr Harrison said: "It's inexplicable and as he describes it to the police, ridiculous. He can do no more than proffer his sincere apologies to the complainant and his family. He has genuine regret and remorse." He added that Beamson had since retrained and obtained alternative employment.
