A MINIBUS driver took the witness stand yesterday to deny causing the death of a 12-year-old Gwent schoolgirl by dangerous driving.

Christopher Cushing, 38, who denies one count of causing death by dangerous driving, is alleged to have been "messing about with the wheel" of the LDV minibus after a 14-year-old girl told him to slow down before a crash on May 16 last year.

Jasmine Allen, 12, died after the bus overturned on the A472 between Hafodyrynys and Crumlin on the route to Newbridge Comprehensive School. The bus had collided with a Skoda travelling in the opposite direction.

Giving evidence at Cardiff crown court yesterday, Cushing, of Ash Place, Bargoed, said he told bus escort Elaine Arthur something was wrong just before impact.

"As I took the turning on the corner, I felt the steering go awful light and I said to Elaine 'the bus doesn't feel right'," he said.

Cushing said he had driven on the A472 about 50 times in the two years before the fatal smash and was familiar with the road.

He admitted he had little experience of carrying passengers and said he was only helping his friend of 20 years, Jason Brewer, who ran A1 Minibuses. Cushing said he did not get paid for driving the bus and did it as a favour.

Under cross-examination from prosecutor Caroline Rees, Cushing, who has three young children, agreed the bus had been fine until the crash.

Miss Rees said Cushing deliberately "messed about" with the wheel after 14-year-old Becky Hadden told him to slow down and comments were made about his body odour. She said Cushing may have thought Becky was "a bit of a cheeky girl, a bit bold."

Miss Rees said: "In response to being told off by a 14-year-old girl you moved your hands about on the wheel, to give her a bit of a shock, teach her a lesson, show her for personal comments about your hygiene and your driving."

Cushing rejected the claims and told the court he might have hit a stone. He added: "If it was my fault, I would admit to it." The jury of six men and six women was expected to retire to consider the verdict today.

The trial continues.