I guess we've known he's had a drink problem for some time, given the way that he left Coronation Street under something of a cloud (slagging off cast members, alleged racist abuse).
But now it seems that Bruce Jones, or Ian Roy Jones to give him his proper name, really needs help after grabbing the wheel of his wife's Mercedes at high speed while two and a half times over the drink-driving limit.
Outside court today the actor said he wanted to beat his alcohol addiction and save his marriage. He issued a statement through his barrister, Dominic D'Souza who stood next to him at Mold Crown Court as he said: "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."
It must have been a truly traumatic experience for his wife, but for the actor who played Les Battersby it should hopefully provide something of a wake up call to tackle his alcoholism and depression. The 57 year old will be sentenced for dangerous driving next month.
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Jones aka Battersby was very lucky to have a top famous barrister in Mr Dominic D'Souza as he may otherwise have gone to prison! Why is it that celebrities get the very best barristers when they get in trouble ensuring the very best outcome unlikely to be afforded normal people? If Mr Jones does indeed get his life on track he has a lot to thank Mr Dominic D'Souza for.
How did Jones get a heavyweight barrister like Dominic D'Souza? It was not the crime of the century and From what I have read Jones was financially on hard times and presumably on legal aid? Mr D'Souza is certainly in high demand it seems. And for Jones it paid off having a barrister like Dominic D'Souza on his side!
can u tell bruce to contact this email as we have a gift for bruce as we missed him in hyde in the theatre. Thank you
By 'heavy weight' barrister I hope you are referring to the demand for my services rather than my sadly growing midriff! If so thank you for the compliment which I am sure I do not deserve. You should know however that Mr Jones was legally aided and that taking the case cost me more in travel to and from the remote court where he was tried than I was paid for the case! He requested me because he had read about me in the papers regarding a number of high profile cases I had conducted in his hometown of Manchester. As something of an 'old school' barrister I still believe in the cab rank principle and did not feel I could refuse the brief even though it was, relatively speaking, a small case.
Mr Jones may indeed have been lucky to get me, but I am sure the result would have been broadly similar whoever represented him as we have such an excellent level of competence a throughout the English criminal Bar.
Kind regards
Dominic D'Souza
By 'heavy weight' barrister I hope you are referring to the demand for my services rather than my sadly growing midriff! If so thank you for the compliment which I am sure I do not deserve. You should know however that Mr Jones was legally aided and that taking the case cost me more in travel to and from the remote court where he was tried than I was paid for the case! He requested me because he had read about me in the papers regarding a number of high profile cases I had conducted in his hometown of Manchester. As something of an 'old school' barrister I still believe in the cab rank principle and did not feel I could refuse the brief even though it was, relatively speaking, a small case.
Mr Jones may indeed have been lucky to get me, but I am sure the result would have been broadly similar whoever represented him as we have such an excellent level of competence a throughout the English criminal Bar.
Kind regards
Dominic D'Souza