Shrewsbury bus prank ended in shelter crash

Alwyn Llewellyn Jones, 18, of Llanfair Caereinion, near Welshpool, caused £2,114 damage to the bus shelter at Raven Meadows bus park.

He yesterday denied a charge of taking the single decker bus which was accepted, but he admitted criminal damage.

Mr Kevin Jones, prosecuting at Shrewsbury Crown Court, said the bus had been parked in the overflow park at Raven Meadows overnight on April 11, after having mechanical problems.

Just after midnight a passer-by saw three young men running away from the bus.

"He then saw the bus was moving," Mr Jones said. "It almost ran over one of the males, crossed the carriageway and crashed into the shelter."

Police, having been alerted by CCTV, were quickly on the scene and, when Jones was questioned he said he had climbed on board the bus and had pretended to drive.

But he told police he had done nothing to start the bus up. It is believed the brakes had been released.

Judge Robin Onions ordered Jones to carry out 125 hours of unpaid work in the community, pay compensation of £2,114 and £100 costs.

He heard that two other young men who were with Jones at the time, but who were not prosecuted, have offered to help pay any compensation.

"That is to be applauded as they have a moral responsibility if nothing else," the judge said.

He told Jones that if someone had been hit by the bus he could have been facing manslaughter charges.

Mr Stephen Scully, for Jones, said it had been a stupid, alcohol-fuelled prank. But he said his client had in no way done anything deliberately that would have caused the bus to roll away. "He may have released the brake in error," he said.

"The two other men with him at the time have agreed to contribute to any compensation Jones may have to pay."

Judge Onions said he had received several references to say that Jones was a well respected young man.