Mount Cotton disability worker, Paul James Knighton, granted bail after alleged bashing

UPDATE: A Redlands man has been granted bail after allegedly bashing a bus driver who tried to protect a schoolgirl after she said the man was staring at her.

A Mount Cotton disability worker was today (Friday, August 19) granted bail after allegedly attacking a Redlands bus driver on Wednesday.

Paul James Knighton, 50, had refused to get off the bus and denied staring at a 15-year-old schoolgirl passenger, Cleveland Magistrates Court heard.

Mr Knighton was granted bail after facing several charges including, assault occasioning bodily harm, committing public nuisance and contravening requirement of police.

The court heard that Mr Knighton boarded a bus travelling from Victoria Point to Loganholme when he failed to scan his gocard.

“He immediately became abusive, calling him (the driver) a stupid idiot and stupid c***, calling him a clown,” police prosecutor Sergeant Angela Tetley said.

The 15-year-old student later approached the bus driver, saying Mr Knighton had been staring at her.

“The victim (bus driver) walked down the aisle and spoke to the defendant about what the young girl had reported,” Sergeant Tetley said.

“He asked him to get off the bus and he refused.

“He struck the victim in the side of the face with a closed fist, punching him three to four times to the left side of the face.”

The father of the 15-year-old had come to pick her up when he saw the attack and intervened, before police arrived.

“It caused students obvious distress,” Sergeant Tetley said.

Mr Knighton’s lawyer, Tania Lacy, agreed that her client should have a mental health assessment.

Magistrate Deborah Vasta said the 15-year-old girl’s father no longer let his daughter take the bus.

Ms Vasta also said she had concerns about Mr Knighton's mental health.

Mr Knighton will reappear in Cleveland Magistrates Court in September.

Cleveland Magistrates Court. Picture: AAP/Richard Walker