A COACH driver threw litter out the window and was “dancing” at the wheel before smashing into the central reservation of a dual carriageway and rebounding into a ditch.

Kieron Jury, 27, of Westerham Road, Bournemouth, was driving a Laguna coach back from Gatwick Airport on March 15 last year when he hit the central reservation of the A338 just past the Ashley Heath roundabout.

The coach rebounded off the barrier and into a ditch, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

And Jury appeared at Poole Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, February 17, charged with dangerous driving and throwing litter, where he was told he was lucky nobody was killed.

Prosecuting, Charles Nightingale told the court: “He was in Hampshire travelling along the A31 to the slip road junction of Ashley Heath roundabout at a time just short of 6 o’ clock in the evening.

“His behaviour as he was travelling along the A31 became increasingly bizarre.

“He was throwing litter out the window, but internal CCTV shows him dancing on the driver’s seat, at times not having any control over the vehicle and travelling at speed.”

Mr Nightingale said he was travelling up the slip road to join the A338 at such a speed that the passenger of a car which was travelling north and was stationary at the roundabout thought Jury would smash through the central reservation and into them.

“It is impossible to say the speed when the vehicle was going round the corner,” he added.

Jury, apart from a caution for possession of ecstasy, had no previous convictions, and had been working as a stay-at-home dad since the incident.

Mitigating, Leah Dillon said: “At the time of the incident, this young man was suffering from undiagnosed ADHD.

“He was so remorseful and in fear of why he was behaving like this. He has accessed the relevant agencies to help him. He his on medication and his long-term partner is extremely supportive.”

Jury, who is no longer employed by Laguna, was given a community order for 12 months, ordered to complete 35 rehabilitation activity requirement days, given an electronic tag keeping him inside between 8pm and 6am for three months, banned from driving for 24 months and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £95 and costs of £85.

Magistrate Martin Arthur said: “You are lucky you didn’t kill yourself or anyone around you, we appreciate it is down to an undiagnosed problem. The end would have been killing yourself and depriving [your partner and son] of a father and a partner.

“You were facing custody, however we are of the belief that we need to deal with the problem, you need help.”

Jury said: “I do understand the seriousness of my actions. I go to bed every night thinking about it, having this date over my head. I am glad to be able to do my best to move forward.”