Thug lunged at driver because Glenrothes bus was not going to Lochee

A drunken thug demanded to be taken to Lochee before lunging at a bus driver.

Brent Conway, 23, was jailed on Monday after terrifying passengers on a bus to Dundee on Friday evening.

Dundee Sheriff Court heard Conway became “irate” after learning the bus was not going directly to Lochee but instead was terminating at Seagate bus station.

Conway was described as being visibly under the influence of alcohol after boarding the bus at Glenrothes at 5pm on Friday.

Fiscal depute Kirsten Letford said: “As the bus entered Cupar, the accused made his way to the front towards the driver and asked him if he was going to Lochee. The driver advised him he would stop at Dundee bus station at which point the accused became very irate and said ‘Aye, well you’re taking me to Lochee’.

“The driver requested the accused take a seat on several occasions, however the accused refused. He began standing over the driver, saying words like ‘Do you think you’re hard? If you don’t take me to Lochee I want my money back.’”

The driver said at this point he felt intimidated by Conway’s behaviour and was finding it difficult to concentrate on the road.

Conway finally got off the bus at Cupar bus station but continued to shout and act aggressively. As the driver tried to usher Conway from the bus area, Conway lunged at him before he was helped by other passengers.

One of the passengers ran to the nearby Cupar police office and was described as being “frightened” and “fearful” for the safety of the driver. Conway also repeatedly struck the bus once the doors were closed and continued with his behaviour while in a police van

Conway, of Alexander Road, Glenrothes, appeared from custody to plead guilty to acting in an aggressive manner on a journey between Glenrothes Bus Station and Station Road, Cupar, on Friday.

He also admitted shouting and swearing at Colin McAinsh before lunging at him, refusing to sit down, making offensive remarks and repeatedly striking the bus door.

Before jailing him for eight months, Sheriff Tom Hughes said: “You can’t behave like this, it is utterly unacceptable behaviour and the matter is made worse by the fact the driver was trying to drive his vehicle with passengers on board.”