Inverness man in court over bus driver attack

A MAN was sent to a young offenders institution after he assaulted an Inverness bus driver and spat on the floor of the bus he had been travelling on.

Daniel Mccafferty (20) of Mackintosh Road, Inverness, had taken illegal substances and fallen asleep and missed his stop, Inverness Sheriff Court heard.

Depute fiscal Fiona Murray said bus driver Robert Wright twice asked Mccafferty to leave bus but he refused. Mr Wright then got off the vehicle to give the passenger an opportunity to leave.

The court heard Mccafferty then walked towards the door of the bus and by this time was shouting and swearing at the bus driver.

Ms Murray said: “The accused then spat on the floor of the bus. This was seen by a passenger who was waiting to get on the bus.”

The driver attempted to get back on the bus and Mccafferty attempted to punch him, however no contact was made. Police arrived at the scene and Mccafferty was detained, the court heard.

Defence solicitor Will Young told the court Mccafferty was not normally a “violent person” and this crime was “out of character”.

He said: “Mccafferty had been taking illegal substances on that particular day. He fell asleep and missed his stop. The bus came back into the city centre and he was frustrated that he was going to get home late.

“He asked the bus driver if he could remain on the bus until the driver was going to do that route again. The bus driver, perhaps understandably didn’t want him to do that. There was a frank exchange between the two. He admits he was flailing around.”

Mccafferty pled guilty to conducting himself in a disorderly manner, shouting, swearing, spitting and committing a breach of the peace on a bus in Union Street on August 29 last year.

He also admitted assaulting Robert Wright by repeatedly attempting to punch him.

Sheriff Ian Abercrombie sentenced Maccafferty to four months in a young offenders institute.

He said: “These offences are indeed out of character for you. But in order to bring home to you the courts disapproval of this behaviour I have no choice but to give you a custodial sentence. You have to learn, however difficult it may be for you, this kind of behaviour is not accepted and will not be tolerated by this court.”