Pendle man given suspended sentence for bus driver assault (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Pendle man given suspended sentence for bus driver assault

5:27pm Thursday 8th September 2011 in Earby By Wendy Barlow, Court reporter

A MAN who assaulted and racially-abused a bus driver was also said to have exposed himself, a court heard.

Paul Monaghan, 39, was captured on CCTV causing trouble on the vehicle, which had pulled up at a stop in Colne, at 7pm.

He punched the victim in the arm several times and shouted at him before police arrived, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Monaghan, was now said to have stopped drinking and had work on offer, and the judge gave him a chance.

The defendant, formerly of Green End Avenue, Earby, had admitted racially-aggravated assault by beating and racially-aggravated threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.

An allegation of exposure was left to lie on the file.

He was given six months in jail, suspended for two years, with a three-month curfew and must pay £385 compensation to the bus driver and £215 costs.

Judge Andrew Woolman said: “This was a disgraceful incident and I would be thoroughly justified in imprisoning you immediately.

"I had it in my mind that’s what I was going to do.”