Soup thrower fined £360 after bus attack
A man who threw chicken soup at a bus driver because she wouldn't let him travel for free has been ordered to pay more than £300 by the courts.
Lesley Kassim stopped Neil Bowers when he tried to board the Arriva 70 bus from Wolverhampton to Cannock on May 6 without paying.
After being told to pay or get off the bus, 49-year-old Bowers threw his cup of chicken soup at the driver.
At Wolverhampton Magistrates Court, Bowers, of Victoria Road, Fallings Park, pleaded guilty to common assault and was ordered to pay £360.
The incident took place at the Stafford Street bus stop in Wolverhampton city centre. Luckily, most of the soup hit the driver's protective screen.
Miss Kerry Lovegrove, prosecuting, said although the driver was not injured as a result of the attack, she now feels 'scared and anxious' when travelling into the area on her route.
Reading from a witness statement, Miss Lovegrove said: "The victim says she feels scared and anxious while she works now. She doesn't like to be made to feel like this.
"She has been driving buses for 20 years but feels like she may have to re-evaluate her career because she will just be thinking of this whenever she drives through Wolverhampton."
Miss Lovegrove also said that Bowers reacted angrily when being told to leave the bus and that he expected to be allowed on for free.
When he threw the soup, some also went on another passenger, who chose not to make a complaint.
Defence solicitor Mr Sundip Murria said his client has a long history with the courts but has rarely made appearances of this nature.
He said: "Though he has an extensive criminal record, I am surprised to see him in court on such a matter.
"He didn't have any money to board the bus and in a moment of anger he threw what he thought was lukewarm soup at the driver.
"There was no injury caused to the driver."
Bowers was ordered to pay £50 in compensation to the driver, a £55 fine, £20 victim surcharge and a £150 court charge, totalling £360.
When handing out the fine, chief magistrate Dennis Davies said: "You knew that this bus driver was working for the benefit of the community, doing a normal, everyday job.
"Public servants don't expect to be assaulted in this way.
"They need our support and they are going to get it."
Arriva spokesman Keith Myatt said: "Arriva Midlands expect our employees to be allowed to carry out their duties without threat of violence or intimidation.
"We are pleased that the person who threw the liquid at our driver has been apprehended at through the magistrates court."
