Man who drove bus at bedroom cleared of assault

A COACH driver from South Shields who drove into a home in Ashington, Northumberland, has been cleared of assault.

- OWEN YOUNGER

Ian Anderson, 33, drove an 18-tonne single-decker bus into his ex-partner's flat, but has been cleared of assaulting him with shards of glass after the collision.

On January 21 last year, Anderson beeped the horn of the coach aggressively before driving it at 4-6mph into the bedroom window of the address in question, with his ex inside.

The defendant, of Westoe, previously admitted to taking the Liberty Coaches vehicle without consent, causing criminal damage to the property, said to be £23,000, and dangerous driving.

Anderson denied assaulting his ex-partner by throwing the shards of glass after the crash, and was cleared following a brief trial at Newcastle Magistrates' Court.