A HEARTBROKEN bus driver — whose vehicle hit and killed a pensioner — broke down in tears as a jury cleared him of death by careless driving.

David Diggle said he had been through 16 months of "sheer hell" since knocking over 84-year-old George Ainsworth in November 2013.

It took a jury just 38 minutes to unanimously find the 66-year-old not guilty at Bolton Crown Court.

The married father-of-two was driving a First 501 bus which hit Mr Ainsworth at the junction of Knowsley Street and Deansgate.

The pensioner suffered multiple injuries in the accident — during which the bus had been travelling at less than 10mph — and died in hospital two weeks later.

Last night Mr Diggle said he thought the Crown Prosecution Service had made a huge mistake in taking the case to court.

He said: “I could not believe it. I am a good guy — I am not a bad person. The whole thing just broke my heart.

“I do think the Crown Prosecution Service made a mistake, and so do a lot of other people. They put me through 16 months of sheer hell.”

Mr Diggle began working as a bus driver aged 23 and had 41 years' experience at the time of the accident.

He was sacked by First two months after the accident and told his driving had “fallen below the standards required” — despite not having been charged by police.

A spokesman for First said: “We note the decision of the court today to acquit Mr Diggle.

“This was a very tragic incident and our thoughts remain with all those affected."

The spokesman said the company was unable to comment on specific staff cases.

Mr Diggle said the situation has had a “devastating effect" on him, adding that he did not think he would work again.

He has been prescribed antidepressants and sought psychiatric help following the accident.

He added: “I am so upset Mr Ainsworth died — but I honestly believe I did nothing wrong. On that day I drove properly and expertly.

“I broke down and cried when I heard the jury deliver the not guilty verdict — and I have cried nearly every night and every morning for Mr Ainsworth.

“I want to extend my deepest sympathies to his family.

“My conscience is clear — but for the rest of my life I will live with knowing someone has lost a loved one.”

Legal arguments during the trial centred on Mr Diggle's view from the driver’s seat, and to what extent the bus's door frame had created the blind spot which hid Mr Ainsworth from view.

Mr Diggle, of Radcliffe Road, Bolton, said he did not believe there was anything First could do to address the problem.

But he said Bolton Council should rail off the 15-metre stretch of pavement between Deansgate and Knowsley Street forcing pedestrians to use the proper crossing.

A council spokesman said: “After the accident we did a full investigation with the police to determine if anything further could be done to improve the junction — but all the measures we have in place were found to be sufficient.

“There is a clearly marked pedestrian crossing at the junction and, in 2011, the priority of this junction was changed to give priority to people crossing the road.”