A MAN who caused chaos on a bus between Taunton and Yeovil, pestering other passengers and becoming abusive, then assaulted the driver when he told him to get off.

Gareth Craig Russell had downed eight pints of cider and was swearing and stealing property belonging to some of the passengers.

He then confronted the driver as he tried to phone the police and ended up grabbing his shirt to try and stop him.

A passing motorist pulled over to help and the defendant told him he wanted to get to Yeovil and grabbed his car keys, snapping them off in the ignition.

He threw them back at the owner and then jumped onto his bonnet and kicked the windscreen causing it to shatter.

He was arrested soon after, when the police arrived.

Russell, 30, of Swallowcliffe Gardens, Yeovil, pleaded guilty to assaulting Derick Young and Philip Flowers by beating them at Somerton on July 9.

He also admitted using threatening or abusive words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour likely to cause someone harassment, alarm or distress.

He further admitted causing damage to a Honda Jazz vehicle belonging to Mr Flowers when he appeared before Somerset Magistrates, sitting at Yeovil.

Prosecutor Emma Lenanton said that the defendant was using a public bus and got on at Taunton Bus Station intending to travel to Yeovil and appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.

“During the journey Russell kept getting up and pestering other passengers, asking them for cigarettes, and he then started to swear and told the bus driver, Derick Young, to just get him to Yeovil,” she said.

“When the bus reached Curry Rivel Mr Young asked him to stop swearing and told him to sit down, however he continued to shout and tried to take people’s property including headphones and glasses and became abusive to the passengers.

“The driver stopped the bus at Langport and asked Russell to calm down or leave, but when he continued to act in the same manner the driver stopped the bus again at Somerton and sought advice.”

Mr Young got off the bus and called the police and he then noticed the defendant had sat in the driver’s seat of the bus and started to throw coins around.

Russell then got off and was abusive to members of the public again, and when he realised Mr Young was on the phone to the police he tried to grab his phone but grabbed at his shirt instead.

Meanwhile Mr Flowers was driving his Honda Jazz with a female passenger and he saw the incident going on between the defendant and the bus driver so he stopped to see if he could offer any help.

“Russell approached his car and shouted that he wanted to get to Yeovil saying the bus driver wouldn’t take him,” said Miss Lenanton.

“He said that if he wouldn’t get involved he would take his keys and then snapped them off in the ignition.

“He threw them back at the victim hitting him on the arm and he then jumped onto the bonnet of the car and kicked the front windscreen causing it to shatter.”

The police arrived and Russell was arrested and continued to be aggressive and struggled upon arrest.

During interview he said he was “hammered” and had drunk around eight pints of cider and couldn’t really remember what happened on the bus.

However he admitted his behaviour was “totally out of order” and said he was disgusted and wanted to apologise to the people involved.

In a statement made by Mr Flowers he said that he had been very concerned for his passenger’s safety and his own during the incident.

“The anger of the male made me worried that things would escalate, and the damage was so substantial and I was without a car for a week and have also had to sort out a new key,” he said.

Mr Young said that he was more concerned about the safety of his passengers on the bus and said the defendant’s aggression had been a real cause for concern.

Defending solicitor Neil Priest said the offences of assault were of a very low level which comprised of the pulling of a shirt and throwing some keys at the victim’s arm.

“Although his behaviour was aggressive he was just being a pest and a nuisance while in drink on the bus,” he said.

“The criminal damage was the most serious of the offences when he stood on the car and kicked it while someone was inside which must have been a frightening experience for the occupants.

“He was in drink at the time and alcohol is one of his main downfalls as he does not drink very often.

“However on this occasion he had drunk eight pints of cider and cannot remember really what happened and he told the police he was disgusted with the way he reacted and wanted to apologise to all those concerned.”

The magistrates sentenced Russell to a 12 month community order with a 20 day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and a direction to attend a Thinking Skills programme.

He was also ordered to pay compensation of £100 to Mr Young and £200 to Mr Flowers along with an £85 victim surcharge.