A GRANDMOTHER who stopped a drunken lout from causing a bus crash after he grabbed the wheel of a moving double-decker has been awarded £100 by a judge for her bravery.

Dawn Bamford was with her grandchild when she stood up to 43-year-old drunk David Bain, who had entered driver Peter Eveleigh's cab before grabbing hold of the driver's arm and the steering wheel – causing the bus to weave dangerously across a busy main road.

The bus was carrying 15 passengers, including elderly people and children, when Bain put their lives in danger – just because he wanted to be let off near a pub.

The bus was travelling along the A3052 in East Devon when Bain caused it to weave dangerously across the road at Woodbury Salterton near Exeter as he demanded the driver stop near the White Horse pub.

Bain was told he could have caused a serious accident if it wasn't for the actions of Mrs Bamford, who pulled the drunken lout away from Mr Eveleigh, allowing him to regain control of the bus. Bain was yesterday jailed by Exeter Crown Court after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to interfering with the vehicle and assaulting the driver in the incident in April last year.

Bain was on the bus with his 36-year-old brother Darren and the court heard the pair had already been causing a nuisance to other passengers, shouting, swearing, playing loud music and drinking alcohol.

Sentencing Bain, Judge Stephen Wildblood QC awarded compensation of £250 to the driver and £100 to Mrs Bamford for their brave actions in preventing what could have been a serious road accident. He described Mrs Bamford's actions as "spirited" before sentencing Bain to 15 months for the vehicle offence and two months for the assault, to run concurrently. The judge said that he had to send out a clear message, adding: "People must be safe using public transport from people like you putting them in danger."

Darren Bain will be sentenced for his role in the incident at a later date following pre-sentence reports.