Man locked up for attacking driver

‘You have ruined her life’ — judge

A MAN who scared a woman bus driver “half to death” has been jailed for eight weeks by a judge in Manchester.

Deputy District Judge John Maxwell heard how lab technician John Lees screamed abuse at Vanessa Nicholson and spat in her face after getting on her bus in a foul mood.

The incident had shocked her so much she was thinking of quitting her job with First Manchester Buses.

The judge told Lees “You have ruined her life. The public rely on this woman to transport them around this great city at all hours of the day.

“You frightened her to death by trying to rip the door down and then spitting on her.

“Anybody doing this must go to prison and I hope the message goes out that anyone doing this will find themselves in your position.”

Father-to-be Lees (26), of Grafton Street, Failsworth, had admitted assaulting Miss Nicholson one night last month.

Gareth Hughes, prosecuting said Lees was immediately abusive after boarding the Manchester-Oldham bus in Harpurhey.

He complained of having to wait a long time and called the driver a “slag”.

During the journey he became agitated and on leaving the No.81 bus seemed to “lose it’, according to the driver.

After screaming at Miss Nicholson and telling her he was going to rip her face off, he reached inside her cab and spat all over her glasses and face.

Mr Hughes Lees kicked the side of the bus when he got off and the only two passengers were left shocked and frightened.

After driving a short distance Miss Nicholson broke down in tears and had to stop the bus.

In a statement she said: “This has scared the life out of me. I have never seen aggression like this.

“I feared he would have leathered me if he could have got to me. I was shocked the two male passengers didn’t help. They were too scared at the ferocity of his attack.

“I don’t want to drive this route again in case he is there. I am thinking I don’t want to drive buses at all.

“I have been scared that much by him I have spoken to my supervisor about an office job.”

Aoife Ryan, defending, said Lees realised his behaviour was appalling and he was disgusted at himself.

It had been the anniversary of his grandmother’s death and a row with his partner had put him in a mood while waiting for the bus.

“He realises he has a short fuse and accepts that he has an anger management problem,” added Miss Ryan.