Violent Fare Dodger Jailed

A fare-dodging bus passenger, who racially abused the driver and spat at a police officer, has been jailed.

Spencer James 42, repeatedly punched the drivers' security screen – cutting his hand and smearing it with blood – after he was challenged.

He pleaded guilty at Willesden Magistrates Court to assaulting the officer, racially aggravated assault and using threatening words or behaviour.

He was sentenced to 42 weeks' imprisonment.

The court heard police were called to a bus on Wealdstone High Street, Harrow, at 2.30pm on March 31 to reports of a man acting aggressively.

It was reported by the bus driver that James had boarded the bus and then sat down without paying for his journey.

When the bus driver told him to pay or get off the bus, James started to act extremely aggressively.
He shouted racist insults at the driver, who then radioed through to the control room to request police assistance.

James continued to act aggressively and punched the screen of the driver's cab four times, with such force he cut his hand and smeared blood on it. 

He then spat at the screen and in the tray of the driver's cab.

Officers arrived and managed to locate James and he was arrested. 

He continued to shout racist abuse at the bus driver and then spat at a police officer.

Further officers arrived at the scene and a spit hood was placed on James. 

He was taken into custody and he was charged.

Detective Sergeant Ian Beattie, of the Metropolitan Police's Road and Transport Policing Command, said: "This was a particularly nasty incident that involved James spitting at a bus driver and a police constable who were carrying out their public duties.

"In the current climate, where everyone is making efforts to stay safe and protect themselves and others, this behaviour is particularly thoughtless and deplorable.

"Any reports of this nature will be dealt with robustly; this sort of behaviour will simply not be tolerated.”

Siwan Hayward, Director of Compliance, Policing and On-street Services at TfL, said: “We are absolutely disgusted by this vicious, threatening assault that left a valued colleague feeling shaken. 

“That anyone could consider spitting at and racially abusing frontline workers during this national health emergency is deeply shocking.

“We welcome James’s sentencing and hope it sends a strong message that abuse won’t be tolerated on our network. 

“Our bus drivers are nothing short of heroic, supporting the efforts to tackle coronavirus by providing transport for critical workers in the NHS, who are saving lives. 

“Safety is our absolute priority and we will continue doing all that we can to protect our staff.”