Updated: Bruce Jones admits dangerous driving

Former Coronation Street star Bruce Jones has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.

The actor, who played Weatherfield layabout Les Battersby for ten years, admitted the charge after his trial by jury was discharged, BBC News reports.

Mold Crown Court heard that the 57-year-old tried to crash a Mercedes last August as it was being driven along the A55 in Flintshire by his wife Sandra. Mr Jones admitted that he had grabbed the car's steering wheel and jerked it up and down, causing the vehicle to swerve violently.

The ex-soap star, who also confessed that he was drunk at the time of the incident, has received an interim driving ban and will be sentenced next month.

A charge of common assault has also reportedly been placed on file over a later incident which saw Mr Jones grab his partner's hand when she managed to stop the car safely at a nearby pub.

It is understood that Jones made his confessions after the first day of his trial yesterday caused him to reflect on his personal problems.

A statement released by his barrister today read: "Mr Jones accepts for the first time that he has an alcohol problem which he needs to address. It is one that has caused him significant problems over the last five or six years and resulted finally in him being in this situation today.

"He very much wants to address this with privacy and get his life together and save a marriage that has lasted over 26 years. He is very regretful at having his wife subjected to cross-examination in court and found the whole experience very distressing."