Former Coronation Street star Bruce Jones avoids prison term

Bruce Jones has escaped a jail term for dangerous driving.

The actor, who played Les Battersby in Coronation Street, admitted last month that he yanked the steering wheel of his wife Sandra's car from her hand as she drove along the A55 in North Wales last August.

On Tuesday he was sentenced at Mold Crown Court to eight months in prison, suspended for 18 months.

The troubled actor 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 since vowed to beat the bottle and save his marriage.

Jones showed no emotion as Recorder Simon Medland handed down the sentence.

The judge told him: "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."

Recorder Medland was told Jones is in a 26-week rehab programme to tackle his addiction.

He said: "The efforts you are making to turn your life around are impressive."

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.