A 61-year-old man told police that he spat in the face of an eastern European bus driver because Polish residents at a hostel he used to stay in repeatedly stood on his toes.
The extraordinary claim came after Edwin Goodall, of James Street, Cellardyke, assaulted the Stagecoach bus driver in Anstruther. He later told police he had an aversion to Poles, adding: ”I refuse to recognise them.”
Depute fiscal Nicola Henderson told Cupar Sheriff Court that Goodall had begun to get agitated as he waited for an X60 Anstruther to St Andrews bus on August 16.
”At around 4.40pm, the accused was seen at the bus stop shouting about the bus being late,” she said. ”The bus driver on that particular day was a Pole, James Korosi.”
Mr Korosi’s bus pulled up at the stop a short time later but its arrival did nothing to soothe Goodall’s frayed temper.
”When the bus arrived Mr Korosi alighted from his cab to check the tickets of two passengers,” Ms Henderson added. ”However, the accused then began to harass him, using word such as ‘Polish b******’. The driver felt intimated and asked the accused to leave the bus.”
Goodall eventually did so but then promptly re-entered after pressing the emergency door. ”The accused then spat in Mr Korosi’s face,” Ms Henderson said. ”Police were contacted… and the accused left prior to their arrival.”
Officers were able to view CCTV footage and Goodall was traced a few days later. When asked about the incident, the accused said: ”I don’t have much to say about it. The bus driver got up to inspect tickets and I lost my temper with him. I lost my rag.”
The court heard that, on further questioning by police about the apparent racially-aggravated aspect to his behaviour, Goodall went on to say: ”I spent two years in a hostel in Edinburgh and there were Poles there who used to stand on my toes . . . I refuse to recognise these people.”’Absolute aversion’Solicitor Douglas Williams said it was fair to say that his client has ”an absolute aversion” to Polish people. ”This behaviour was somewhat bizarre,” the defence agent acknowledged. ”Mr Goodall does seem to have an absolute aversion to Poles.
”He was in a Salvation Army hostel in Edinburgh for a time and had been subjected to bullying and threats by some Polish residents. They challenged him to phone the police about it but made it clear that if he ever did so he would be subjected to further physical abuse.
”He is now contrite, although I accept that was not his attitude during interview,” Mr Williams added. ”Mr Goodall accepts his behaviour was offensive and unacceptable. He was anxious and frustrated because the bus was late.”
Sheriff Charles Macnair ordered Goodall to carry out a community payback order, including a condition that he undertake 165 hours of unpaid work. The accused was also ordered to pay £400 in compensation to his victim.
”This was a disgraceful episode,” the sheriff said. ”Whatever the position was in the hostel in Edinburgh, you cannot use that as any form of excuse.
”This was somebody who had come to this country and was simply doing his job. Any bus driver is no doubt obliged to check tickets as part of their employment. Such employees are entitled to the protection of the court,” he added.