A DRUNKEN man punched an Asian bus driver and shouted racist abuse at him after demanding that he took him home.

Blackburn magistrates heard Ross Scott initially lunged at the duty manager, who was on the bus talking to driver Khalid Perwez.

Scott, 24, of Stirling Drive, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to racially-aggravated assault.

He was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay £100 compensation, and £85 costs.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said Mr Perwez was parked on The Boulevard at about 9.30pm when Scott approached and racially abused him.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said Scott could remember nothing of the incident.