A HIT-AND-RUN bus driver who left a teenager badly injured has admitted dangerous driving and being drunk at the wheel.

Andrew Aldridge, 49, was driving an Arriva bus on Ness Road, Shoebury, when his wing mirror hit 17-year-old Sean Fischer in the head at 3.15pm on Tuesday, February 26.

Echo:

Recovering - Sean Fischer

Aldridge, who had more than 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood in his system at the time, failed to stop at the scene.

He kept on driving the bus despite protests from passengers, and the bus was eventually stopped by police near Southend Bus Station, where he was arrested.

Sean was taken to hospital having suffered a dislocated knee, two broken toes and a gash on his head. He was helped by his friends and members of the public while the road was closed.

He was airlifted to hospital by an air ambulance which landed in the park nearby.

His family later said he had been left “traumatised” by the incident and it would take him a while to recover, and that they were “fuming” over what happened.

Aldridge was summonsed to court in September charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving, failing to stop after a road traffic collision and driving a vehicle with an alcohol level above limit.

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Recovered - the bus was eventually stopped

At Basildon Crown Court on Friday, Aldridge, dressed in a blue shirt and tie, admitted all charges apart from causing serious injury, which he denied. He has also had his driving licence revoked meaning he must not drive any vehicle from now on.

Addressing Aldridge, Judge Samantha Leigh said: “You have pleaded guilty to these serious matters and it will now go on to sentencing.

“Your driving licence has been revoked, meaning you cannot drive any vehicle from today onwards.”

Aldridge will be sentenced at the same court the week beginning December 2.