Les Battersby actor 'tried to end it all in Mercedes' Bruce Jones leaving court at a
Les Battersby actor 'tried to end it all in Mercedes'
The former Coronation Street actor leaving an earlier hearing
The actor who played Les Battersby in Coronation Street grabbed the wheel of his wife's car and said he was going to kill them both, a court has heard.
Bruce Jones - tried under his real name of Ian - caused the Mercedes to swerve violently at 60-70mph on the A55 Flintshire, Mold Crown Court was told.
It is also claimed that he later assaulted his wife Sandra Jones, 59.
Mr Jones, 57, from Alderly Edge, Cheshire, denies dangerous driving and assault. The trial continues.
The judge, Mr Recorder Simon Medland, warned the jury on Thursday to put out of their minds "any Les Battersby preconceptions".
He said: "It will be apparent to you that the defendant is an actor by occupation who used to play a character Les Battersby on Coronation Street.
He let go of the steering wheel but kept saying that he was going to steer the car in front of a truck and kill them both
Gordon Hennell, prosecuting
"It is important to have in your minds at all times that you are trying the defendant as an individual and not the character of Les Battersby, some of whose attributes were not very pleasant."
The jury was told that the couple had been married for 26 years.
She had told police that he had a drink problem and often behaved in an abusive and violent way.
The problem got worse after Mr Jones left the ITV soap in 2007, the court heard.
The jury were told he had been drinking on 28 August 2009, before the couple travelled to Abersoch, Gwynedd, with her driving.
'Angry'
Prosecutor Gordon Hennell said the couple began rowing about a missing ring belonging to his mother, who has since died.
"He suddenly grabbed the steering wheel of the Mercedes with his right hand and pushed it up and down," said Mr Hennell.
The court heard how the car swerved in a zigzag motion.
Mr Hennell added: "As it did so, he said he was going to crash the car through the barrier.
"He let go of the steering wheel but kept saying that he was going to steer the car in front of a truck and kill them both."
'Out of here'
Interviewed, Jones denied being drunk and told police: "I just sort of said to myself, just ending it all, just getting out of it.
"I could just take that wheel, turn it, and we are both out of here."
He denied touching the wheel.
The jury was told how Mrs Jones managed to control the car, and shortly after pulled into the Traveller's Rest at Rhuallt, Denbighshire.
There, it was alleged Mr Jones grabbed her right hand as she tried to get her bag, which amounted in a charge of common assault.
Demonstrating how he had grabbed the steering wheel, Sandra Jones said: "He yanked it up and down a few times. He pulled it up and down with his right hand. He did it probably four or five times."
Mrs Jones told how she had sought medical treatment in the past after being physically assaulted by her husband.
After he finished with Coronation Street in 2007 he would go out drinking during the day, and was "quite often drunk", she said.
She claimed she had scars on her face after he had pushed her downstairs, thrown a shoe at her and hit her with a telephone.
Defending barrister Dominic D'Souza said the car swerved because she dropped her mobile phone.
'Gangster'
Mrs Jones told Mr D'Souza she care deeply for her husband and they had been living together despite bail conditions that he was not to contact her.
When she was told Mr Jones loved her very much, she replied: "Sometimes."
The court heard how Mr Jones lost his Coronation Street job because of his alcohol alcohol problem, and became up to £130,000 in debt.
His earnings had bought houses, holidays, and a £150,000 yacht, and she was accused of resenting him for a sudden change in their lifestyle.
Ms Jones also told how, on the day of the incident, he said he had been thinking of a career change.
She added: "He often spoke about becoming a gangster."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_east/8574464.stm
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