A sleepy passenger assaulted a bus driver who woke him up – just hours after appearing court.
Stephen Dyer was released after appearing from custody at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on May 10 over an unrelated matter.
But the 45-year-old made several “stops” en route from the court building to Aberdeen Bus Station ahead of catching a bus to travel home to Brechin.
Intoxicated, Dyer fell asleep on the bus and, when eventually roused by the driver, he instantly flew into a rage and swung kicks and punches at the man.
‘I’m going to get you’
Fiscal depute Georgia Laird told Aberdeen Sheriff Court Dyer got on the bus around 6.10pm on May 10.
She said: “At 6.50pm, the bus arrived at Barclay Street, Stonehaven, where the service terminated.
“All passengers disembarked with the exception of the accused.
“The witness approached the accused, who was lying sleeping on the seat directly behind the driver’s seat.”
Ms Laird told the court Dyer “appeared to be intoxicated” and smelled of alcohol.
She went on: “On being awoken, the accused immediately became aggressive, saying ‘I’m going to get you’.”
The driver then got off the bus but was followed by Dyer who “started throwing several punches and kicks”.
No punches made contact, but a number of kicks did.
‘He remembers absolutely nothing’
The driver contacted the police but, while waiting for them to arrive, Dyer turned his anger towards the bus itself.
Dyer aimed kicks at the door of the bus and threw aluminium cans and food tins at the windscreen, causing it to crack.
Dyer pled guilty to charges of assault and vandalism.
Defence agent Iain McGregor said his client had appeared in court from custody earlier that day over another matter and was released on bail.
He said: “He was travelling back to his home in Brechin and, unfortunately, he made a number of stops before boarding the bus at Aberdeen bus station.
“He was in a highly intoxicated state. He remembers absolutely nothing of this incident.”
Mr McGregor said his client had a “serious alcohol problem” but had expressed remorse and was “apologetic towards the bus driver”.
Sheriff Shirley McKenna handed Dyer, of Caledonian Road, Brechin, 200 hours of unpaid work and a year’s supervision.
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