Passenger jailed for attack on bus driver

Jamie Lindsey boarded the bus in Leeds with a woman and two children and during the journey in May last year shouted at the driver about the way he was driving.

Chris Aspinall, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court yesterday the driver did not respond but when the vehicle reached the terminal in Brackenwood Drive, Lindsey went over to the cab and repeated his complaint.

The driver told him he had seven years driving experience and had never had any problems before. But at that, Lindsey pulled open the cab door and butted the man, who was still seated. Lindsey then walked away.

The driver called his control, the police and an ambulance because he was bleeding from a cut on the top of his nose, though fortunately his glasses had not broken.

By the time help arrived, the bleeding had stopped and he was treated at the scene.

In November last year Lindsey was involved in another incident when he allegedly threatened a man with a meat cleaver in a row over a cat.

He could not be arrested at the time because he moved away but was eventually traced in April this year to a flat in Morley where a quantity of cannabis was also found.

Lindsey, 24, of no fixed address admitted assaulting the driver and possessing the cannabis, and was found guilty by a jury of affray and having a bladed article.

Jailing him Judge Rodney Grant said the bus driver was defenceless in his cab when assaulted: "Courts are determined to do what they can to protect public servants."

James Bourne-Arton for Lindsey said at the time he was using large quantities of cannabis which caused dramatic mood swings.