M1 coach crash driver facing jail

The coach hit the kerb, a tree and lamppost before overturning

The man at the wheel of a coach that overturned at an M1 service station in Buckinghamshire has admitted to driving dangerously with excess alcohol.

Leslie Weinberg, 35, was arrested after being cut from wreckage at Newport Pagnell Services on 3 September 2007.

The National Express Birmingham to Stansted coach overturned on a services slip road and 33 passengers were hurt.

The judge at Aylesbury Crown Court told Weinberg, formerly of Meyrick Road in West Bromwich, he faces a jail term.

The case was adjourned until the week of 26 May for medical reports.

Weinberg had a drink drive reading of 145mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80mg per 100ml.

After the crash, on the afternoon of 3 September last year, casualties were treated at hospitals in Northampton, Milton Keynes and Oxford.

Six passengers suffered serious injuries and one man had his arm amputated.

Leslie Weinberg admitted driving dangerously with excess alcohol.

The seriously injured included a 61-year-old man, a 45-year-old woman from Church Stretton in Shropshire, a 28-year-old man from Coventry, a 39-year-old woman from Worcester, a 60-year-old man from France, a 57-year-old woman from Australia and a 20-year-old man from Poland.

Weinberg pleaded guilty to driving dangerously and driving with excess alcohol at Aylesbury Crown Court.

Judge Christopher Tyrer told Weinberg he faced a jail sentence and said: "This is serious. The circumstances are very grave.

"As a result of your intoxication, you completely mistook where you were. You mistook the exit of the motorway and a number of people were seriously injured.

"This is way past the custody threshold and you should make arrangements accordingly."

He passed an interim Disqualification Order on Weinberg, who was bailed to live and sleep at Nimmings Road, Halesowen, in the West Midlands.