A GREENOCK man with no driving licence crashed a BUS into two parked cars before dawn.

Scott Rooney — a convicted knife slasher who was acquitted two years ago of murdering a man — drove the vehicle on Drumfrochar Road in the early hours of November 11.

The 22-year-old was found behind the driver's seat of the damaged bus, with an empty beer can lying nearby, our sister title the Greenock Telegraph reports.

Prosecutor Pamela Brady said: "At 4.55am a witness making a delivery heard a loud bang.

"The witness saw a bus had struck a red car and a silver-coloured car and was seen to be driven off.

"Police were contacted and officers searched for the bus, tracing it a short distance away with accident damage."

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Rooney was jailed for 30 months last year after admitting a knife slashing attack which left his victim permanently disfigured.

He was cleared at the High Court in 2016 of a charge of murdering Greenock man Michael Mearns, 56, in the town's cemetery.

At his latest appearance in court fiscal depute Mrs Brady said: "The accused was found behind the driver's seat and was removed from the vehicle.

"An empty Stella Artois can was found and the accused made no reply when cautioned and charged."

Rooney was nearly twice the legal booze limit when he was breathalysed.

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He pleaded guilty to driving a motor bus with 41mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

Defence lawyer David Tod said: "He has never applied for a licence. It is not a particularly high reading."

The court was told that Rooney has an unexpired portion of his jail sentence still to serve.

Sheriff Andrew McIntyre remanded him in custody for the preparation of a background report.

The case is due to call again on December 5.