COACH driver Robert Blakemore, who’s “eyes closed” while behind the wheel when he crashed with more than 50 people onboard, received a 15 month driving ban today, Wednesday.

Blakemore of Wolverhampton was driving the coach full of mainly children on the M5 when it veered onto the hard shoulder and down the embankment on August 19 last year.

Stroud Magistrates Court heard how Blakemore, 60, was seen by passengers Lisa Carter and Janet Slade with his chin resting on his chest and eyes closed.

The coach had turned on its side at around 10am that morning leaving the motorway closed for up to five hours and a number of passengers with injuries.

Southwest Ambulance Service confirmed that one child and five adults’ sustained injuries while on the daytrip from Sandwell to Weston Super Mare organised by charity Action for Children. 

Blakemore entered a guilty plea to the charge of driving without due care and attention before arriving in court.

The court heard how one passenger broke a bone in her neck and Blakemore, who arrived at court on crutches, broke his leg.

Magistrates heard that Blakemore suffers from diabetes but had been found fit to work.

As the coach began to veer onto the hard shoulder, passengers screamed and Blackmore, who started work at 7.30am, struggled to control the wheel, it collided with a barrier and rolled on its side.

Blakemore told magistrates: “All I can say is I don’t know what happened in the crash. If I am disqualified I will lose my job.”

In a police interview Blakemore said he had no recollection of the crash and that he had never ‘blacked out’ due to his diabetes so as far as he knew was not ill at the time.

The chairman of the Stroud Magistrates said: “This is a very serious offence and the standard of your driving fell below that of a careful driver and is bordering on dangerous.”

Blakemore, who is currently receiving sickness benefit, was disqualified from driving for 15 months and must take an extended driving test before regaining his license.

He was also fined £60, £85 court costs and £20 victim surcharge.