AN ABUSIVE passenger has been banned from all buses in the city after throwing tissues soaked in his spittle at a driver.
Kevin Docherty Hume was on the bus between Clarence Square in Brighton and Palmeira Square in Hove.
He assaulted two men, and shouted abuse likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress on board.
Brighton Magistrates’ Court heard how the abuse was homophobic.
The 50-year-old was jailed for 22 weeks, and the sentence was praised by Brighton and Hove Buses boss Martin Harris.
Mr Harris said Hume is now banned from buses in Brighton and Hove because of his aggressive behaviour and hate speech.
The court was also told that Hume had left a man fearing violence during a separate incident in Bolton Road, Eastbourne.
During that incident, he had also stolen coffee from the Iceland frozen foods store in nearby Langney Road.
In court, Hume was found guilty of two assaults against men on board the bus on June 12 last year.
The bus route is served by services including the number 1, 2, 5, 6, 46 and 49.
Court documents noted the offences were “aggravated by hostility towards the sexual orientation, or perceived sexual orientation of the victim”.
The court said he had been “throwing tissue with spittle at the bus driver at a time when Covid-19 was prevalent”.
Hume was ordered to pay £300 in compensation for the attack, a sum which will be taken from his benefits payments.
The incident follows concerns over coronavirus, with police officers reporting a rise in spit attacks.
In recent weeks councils across Sussex have also reported a rise in attacks and Covid-19 threats made against staff such as parking wardens.
Brighton and Hove Buses managing director Mr Haris said: “We will not tolerate aggressive behaviour or hate speech against any of our drivers or customers on our buses.
“Given Hume's words and actions, this sentence is well deserved.
“I am pleased to say he is now banned from all of our buses.”
Hume, of Grand Parade, Brighton, appeared in court on February 15 and was jailed.
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