One-way ticket to jail for bus thug

A THUG who attacked a bus driver and two brave witnesses has been jailed.

James Cormode (23), of Denshaw Road, Delph, was sentenced to a year in prison for assault and attempted robbery at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court yesterday.

The court heard how Cormode had been among a group of five men waiting to get on a bus in King Street, Delph, on October 16, last year.

When it arrived, Cormode began abusing the bus driver and threw the contents of a plastic cup over him.

He then walked down to the back of the bus and pressed the emergency cut off switch, stopping the bus’s engine.

Cormode continued to shout abuse at the driver and tried to grab his cash bag.

A passer-by saw what was happening and tried to get on the bus to help the driver. Cormode punched and kicked him, knocking him to the ground.

A second man who witnessed the assault on his home CCTV rushed to help but Cormode then threw a punch at him, which the victim dodged. However, in doing so, he slipped and fell to the ground and Cormode punched him to the back of the head while he lay helpless on the floor.

Cormode got into a waiting car and drove off but it was stopped by police and he was arrested.

Detective Constable Mark Pitt, of Oldham CID, said: “This was a completely unprovoked attack and Cormode’s three victims will remember that day for a long time.”