MATTHEW WOODCOCK examines the contradictory personality of James Glenton, who yesterday admitted causing a York bus crash in which a passenger died.

AS a fresh-faced 11-year-old James Glenton was one of a "Famous Five" gang of schoolboys who helped convict three men for causing mayhem on a raceday drinking spree.

Nine years later, he was again hailed a hero after he and two other men dragged a man to safety from his burning York flat.

The phrase "Good Samaritan" could have been invented for him.

But the 21-year-old's life has been one of stark and worrying contradictions. His admission of guilt yesterday to causing the death of passenger Mohamed Eltahtawy in the horrific Bootham bus crash in York, almost beggared belief judging from his past heroics.

However, it was not the first time he had appeared in court on a serious charge.

Last year started well for Glenton when he was involved in the dramatic rescue of a man from a flat only yards from his home in Rowntree Avenue, Clifton. He and his brother, Wesley, bravely jumped into the blazing property to pull him out and then checked his pulse and covered him with jumpers before help arrived.

But his public-spiritedness was not to last. In June, 2003, he was jailed for a month after taking a 11cm blade with him into Ikon and Diva. The court heard he had shouted obscenities at a police officer when he was discovered sprawled out on a grass verge near the club, drunk and smelling of urine.

The butterfly knife was found in his pocket. Glenton admitted drunk and disorderly behaviour and carrying an offensive weapon.

In November, 2003, Glenton was cleared of attempted murder. He was held in prison for five months suspected of being the knifeman who stabbed Richard Sampson, 22, in Stanley Street, The Groves, York, and severely injuring Mr Sampson's girlfriend, Carrie Dowson, on May 31, 2003.

But the trial collapsed when several witnesses, including the alleged victim, refused to give evidence against him or even turn up in court. He was found not guilty on charges of attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm.

Glenton's experience of harsh prison life failed to keep him out of trouble and his darker side has now cost a man his life.

Mr Eltahtawy, 49, died after a bus travelling from Ikon & Diva nightclub smashed into a partition wall of the Churchill Hotel, Bootham, then struck the parapet of a nearby railway bridge, early on April 16.

The court heard that Glenton was racked with guilt. He had tried to take his own life in prison and was taking medication. His solicitor said that his client had no proper memory of the crash and went to the police when he started having nightmares about it and "knew there was something wrong". He pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Eltahtawy.

How different to the 11-year-old James who, with his four young pals, was treated to a boat ride, crisps and fizzy pop by British Transport Police, after courageously reporting the violent raceday drunks.

Updated: 08:35 Wednesday, August 04, 2004