Gold Coast bus driver basher’s latest foul tirade
A man who bashed a 63-year-old Gold Coast bus driver faced court today for another terrifying bus confrontation, this time in Brisbane.
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A man who was given a suspended prison sentence for the cowardly bashing of a Gold Coast bus driver has received another jail sentence for abusing a Brisbane driver.
Jean-Adelphe Lasm pleaded guilty in Holland Park Magistrates Court today to public nuisance after the latest incident, at Garden City Shopping Centre, Upper Mt Gravatt, on September 30 last year.
The court was told passengers were screaming in fear as Lasm shouted at the terrified driver: “Do your job you lazy c**t.’’
Police prosecutor Lauren Archer told the court that when the driver went to the back of the bus to get away, Lasm taunted him: “You f***ing coward, you want some?’’
The ugly incident happened at 2.15pm when Lasm boarded the 599 service and the bus driver noticed his gocard had no money on it.
When the driver pointed that out, Lasm said he had only $10 which he needed for food.
He became abusive and the driver got off the bus, fearing for his safety, Ms Archer said.
Lasm kept on abusing him so the driver got back on board.
But Lasm continued his foul tirade, terrifying passengers, Ms Archer said.
The 25-year-old unemployed painter, from Kingston, received a suspended nine-month jail sentence in 2015 after viciously attacking 63-year-old Robert Sutherland.
He stopped only after a brave good Samaritan stepped in.
The incident was sparked after Lasm’s gocard failed and the driver was unable to change Lasm’s $50 note.
At the time Lasm had breached bail after being convicted of a 2013 public nuisance charge.
Lasm’s lawyer said her client accepted he had overreacted, he had demonstrated remorse to her, it was not his intention to cause harm and there was no physical harm in the incident at Garden City.
Holland Park Magistrate, Simon Young, had just decided to let Lasm off with 120 hours’ community service before his disrespectful behaviour forced an angry Mr Young to change his mind.
Lasm interrupted Mr Young while he was delivering his sentence, shook his head constantly and muttered an inaudible statement, which he refused to repeat aloud.
“I no longer think it’s appropriate to impose community service. Mr Lasm, by his demeanour, reinforces my view that he is at risk of not completing community service,’’ Mr Young said.
Instead, Mr Young handed down a one-month suspended prison sentence, to be suspended after six months.
“These actions are unacceptable. You don’t seem to have learned from your suspended sentence in 2015.
“You have not treated this charge with the respect or seriousness it deserves.
“While I would not say these incidents are (widespread), they’re very much at the forefront of the community’s mind.
“The court must condemn these incidents.’’