A COACH driver has been left “devastated” after being criticised for letting on a drunk man who later grabbed the wheel.

Thomas Roby caused the Oxford Tube coach to overturn on the M40 when he lunged for the wheel, despite the best efforts of driver Trevor License to keep control.

Mr License was off work for four months and only started driving again in mid-December.

Roby, from Cavell Road, East Oxford, admitted charges of interfering with a motor vehicle and endangering the lives of road users. He was jailed for 12 months at Aylesbury Crown Court last week.

The court heard Mr License, from Witney, had let Roby on board for just £1.80 to try to help him because he did not have the right fare and was drunk.

Online commentators questioned whether Roby should have been allowed on the bus.

One said: “If he was so drunk he should have been left in Oxford to find his own way home. Passengers shouldn’t have to put up with drunks on public transport.”

Another added: “Anyone who is obviously so intoxicated should not be allowed on public transport for safety reasons.”

But Mr License’s daughter Lisa License, 28, hit back, defending her father.

She said: “My dad is a hero, there’s no doubt about it.

“He has been devastated by these comments from people on the Internet.

“They have no idea what happened and have somehow tried to blame my father for the stupid actions of one drunk man.

“My dad tried to show a bit of compassion for a passenger and had it thrown back in his face.”

There were 12 passengers aboard the coach, including Roby, when it crashed at 60mph near Beaconsfield.

No-one was seriously hurt.

Ms License, from Buckingham, added: “He is still coming to terms with what happened, and has faced flashbacks to the incident.

“He did nothing wrong and it’s not very nice for him to read people having a go at him.

“My dad is improving but the whole incident really affected him badly.”