Rachel Lewis, 23, refused bail after pleading guilty to stabbing a bus driver in hand with scissors

A woman has pleaded guilty to stabbing a bus driver in the hand with a pair of scissors after she repeatedly pressed the 'request stop' button.

A bus driver was stabbed in the hand on Thursday night.

A woman has admitted to deliberately stabbing a bus driver in the hand with a pair of scissors – and striking another man a month earlier with a stainless steel bottle.

 

On Tuesday, Rachel Lewis, 23, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court as prosecutors finalised the charges pending against her.

Counsel for Lewis told the court their client was prepared to “admit” the charges, and Chief Magistrate, Judge Mary-Louise Hribal read the charges to her.

The Morphett Vale woman has pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault that causes harm against a transport worker, two counts of aggravated assault against a transport worker, two counts of aggravated theft using force and one count of making a false police report.

Rachel Lewis has been refused bail after allegedly throwing a drink and stabbing a bus driver with scissors. Picture: MATT LOXTON

The court heard Lewis had struck a man using a stainless steel water bottle when committing a theft in January 2025.

During her court appearance after being arrested in early February, prosecutors said Lewis boarded a Torrens Transit bus at 11.15pm in the CBD alongside a small group of other passengers.

She allegedly got in a verbal altercation with the driver after being asked to not repeatedly press the “request stop” button.

The court heard a drink was thrown at the driver, before Lewis allegedly banged on the perspex safety barrier and spat at the driver.

The court heard the driver allegedly pushed Lewis away from him, and was then stabbed with scissors to the hand.

The driver required stitches for the wound.

Prosecutors alleged Lewis was identified by other passengers, and after her arrest told officers where a pair of scissors had been disposed of near the River Torrens.

In February, the court heard she was on bail for another unrelated charge at the time of the alleged offending, and had breached her bail curfew multiple times.

Judge Hribal remanded Lewis on continuing bail to return to court in October.

Originally published as Rachel Lewis, 23, refused bail after pleading guilty to stabbing a bus driver in hand with scissors