A BANNED motorist ignored pleas to slow down before losing control of his car and crashing into a bus, a court heard.

Driver Charles Boyd and his three passengers were knocked unconscious in the impact, which left the Vauxhall Cavalier under the bus.

Durham Crown Court was told that many of the 18 bus passengers, some of whom were thrown to the floor, needed hospital treatment.

All four people in the car were injured, the worst being back seat passenger Katrina Henderson, who suffered a collapsed lung and liver damage.

Boyd, 22, who can remember nothing of the incident, was jailed for 15 months and banned from driving for three years. He admitted dangerous driving and driving while disqualified at a previous hearing.

The court was told that Boyd, of Saltwells Road, Middlesbrough, had only recently been disqualified at the time of the incident on May 19.

John Wilkinson, prosecuting, said that after reaching speeds of up to 80 miles per hour, Boyd lost control of the car approaching Ryhope village green, near Sunderland.

Paul Fleming, mitigating, said Boyd, who was in a coma for three weeks after the accident, was devastated when told of the injuries.

Mr Fleming said: "It seems he was showing off, although there was no reason. There was no car chase and the vehicle wasn't stolen."