Coach driver, who drove into ex-partner's flat in Ashington, cleared of assault
A South Shields man has been cleared of assaulting his ex - after driving an 18 tonne coach into a property in Ashington
A South Shields man's been cleared of assaulting his ex - after driving an 18 tonne coach into his home in Ashington.
Ian Anderson, 33, beeped the horn repeatedly before he drove the coach at 4-6mph into the bedroom window of the address in Ashington, Northumberland, on January 21 last year, while his ex was inside.
The defendant, of Westoe, South Shields, South Tyneside, previously admitted taking the Liberty Coaches vehicle without consent, causing criminal damage to the property and dangerous driving.
The damage to the flat alone was said to be £23,000.
But Anderson denied assaulting his ex by throwing glass shards at him after the crash and he was cleared following a brief trial at Newcastle Magistrates' Court.
Brian Payne, prosecuting, said Anderson was interviewed by police and the defendant confirmed he threw glass in the direction of his former partner, but said he did not hit him.
Anderson told the court after driving into the building, he sat in the seat for a couple of minutes, switched the engine off and noticed his leg was injured.
He said he then saw his ex with his parents in the damaged bedroom.
Anderson told the court he picked up a piece of glass the size of an iPhone and threw it at a wall but did not intend to hurt anyone.
He explained: "It was purely to hit the wall, to give me time to get away without any confrontation."
He added: "I was in shock, concerned about my leg and I just wanted to walk away."
Anderson said he had no intention of hurting anyone in the building and he beeped the coach horn repeatedly to get people's attention.
He said: "I am completely remorseful of why it happened.
"I was experiencing the worst mental health day of my life.
"It shouldn't have happened."
The court heard the injured ex-partner was told later by a police officer that he was bleeding.
He did not believe he had been injured by the collision.
The court was told that Anderson was previously of good character and chairman of the bench, Steven Johnson, said both witnesses were credible and cleared him of assault as the ex-partner did not know when and how he was injured.
Anderson will be sentenced for the other offences on February 2 at Newcastle Crown Court.
Outside court, the defendant told the Press Association: "I didn't intend to hurt anyone.
"It's an 18-tonne coach, if I had wanted to cause injury, I would have continued through the house.
"It was purely to embarrass him."