Tadley bus driver punched and racially abused

Police seeking witnesses to Tuesday evening incident

A BUS driver in Tadley was punched and racially abused on Tuesday evening (Jul 5) with police seeking witnesses.

According to Hampshire Constabulary, the incident happened around 9.25pm on Tuesday July 5, as the Stagecoach bus on the number two route stopped in Bishopswood Road.

A man and a woman tried to board the bus with an invalid ticket.

When the 49-year-old male bus driver challenged them, he was verbally abused, with references made to his race, before being punched repeatedly by the male.

The man and woman then walked off and away from the bus.

The driver suffered bruising but did not need hospital treatment.

The man was described as white, aged between 18 and 20 years of age, of medium height and average build. He had medium length brown hair and was clean shaven.

The woman was described as being white and of a similar height to the male.

Investigating officer, PC Barbara Bradley said: “This was a nasty assault on a bus driver who was just going about his job.

“The two people who tried to board the bus may live in Basingstoke, as the invalid ticket they produced was issued earlier that day in the town.

“We would also like to speak to the only other passenger on the bus, a woman who got on at the Heath End/Bishopswood Lane junction, who is believed to live locally to Tadley.

“We would urge anyone who witnessed the incident, and has yet to come forward, to contact us as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Bradley at Tadley police station telephone the non emergency number, 101, quoting 44160250490.