A 'DRUNK' bus driver who drove off his route in Bristol to Newport, before crashing the double decker into a stationary car has escaped jail.

Grezegorz Erdmanski, 58, was on shift on October 24 when he went off the route from the Bristol area, and ended up travelling down the M4, over the Severn Bridge and into Newport.

The Polish national pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle when above the legal limit and aggravated taking of a vehicle without the owner's consent at Newport Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, where he was sentenced.

Sam Mainwaring, prosecuting, said at around 4.30pm on October 24 a call was made to First West of England - the bus company which employed Erdmanski - with concerns that one of the drivers was "drunk in charge of the bus."

The bus operator tracked down the vehicle, which should have been travelling from Cribbs Causeway to Temple Meads, but the tracker showed it on the M4 and travelling over the Severn Bridge.

The double decker, 74-seater bus, was then tracked on the Southern Distributor Road and on to Chepstow Road in Newport, the court heard.

At around 6.20pm - after Erdmanski's shift had been due to end at 5.50pm - a resident saw the bus crash with a stationary C-Max car.

Ms Mainwaring, prosecuting, said the crash caused damage costing £400 to the bus and 'significant damage' to the rear of the stationary car.

The bus was then located at the Coldra roundabout, Newport, by First West of England and Erdmanski was found as the only person in the vehicle.

After police were called, Erdmanski was taken to a police station where his breath reading was 125 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the legal limit.

Erdmanski, who was employed by First West of England since 2008 but has since had his employment terminated, told police he had drunk half a bottle of vodka, the court heard.

He told police officers he could remember driving to Newport but not the crash in Chepstow Road.

Ms Mainwaring said the bus driver expressed remorse to police.

Paul Morris, defending, said Erdmanski, of Princess Royal Gardens, Bristol, has no previous convictions and has since had his employment terminated.

He said the only explanation for Erdmanski's actions was the "ridiculous amount of alcohol" consumed which had impaired his judgement.

Mr Morris said: “He drove a significant distance to a place he did not need to be.

"He is very lucky injury was not caused during that journey. If it had been it is fair to say he would now likely be in jail.”

Jo Brown, of the probation service, said Erdmanski has some issues with alcohol but does not drink every day.

Recommending a suspended sentence with an unpaid work requirement, she said Erdmanski viewed the prospect of prison with 'trepidation' and was relied upon by family for finances.

A sentence of 24 weeks, suspended for 18 months was imposed. Erdmanski will also be made to carry out 250 hours of unpaid community work in the next 12 months.

He was disqualified from driving for 30 months, but this will be reduced by seven-and-a-half months if he completes a driving course.

Magistrate Gillian Gibb said compensation for the owner of the car which was hit was a civil matter, to be dealt with by insurance companies.