Man sorry for attack on Newcastle bus driver after he tried to punch him
Affected by Xanax, Jayden Dunn says he can’t remember grabbing a hold of the driver’s arm, pinning it against the Perspex safety screen and swinging a punch.
Newcastle
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A Newcastle man who assaulted a local bus driver on an evening run, has been spared jail time, with the magistrate acknowledging his remorse over the attack.
Jayden Dann, 21, was charged with common assault after he grabbed and tried to punch the defenceless driver when he asked him to get off the bus.
Court documents stated the bus had stopped at a pickup on Hunter St at around 9pm on June 22, when Mr Dann got on with another passenger, ranting that he had been robbed by him.
After causing a disturbance, he was told to get off the bus before he grabbed hold of the driver’s arm, pinned it against the Perspex safety screen and swung a punch.
The driver immediately called police before Mr Dann made his exit. He was later arrested at the King St Hotel.
He told police he was unable to provide a version of events of the incident due to being affected by Xanax, which he didn’t have a prescription for.
In Newcastle Local Court on Thursday, Mr Dann’s solicitor said his client had acknowledged his behaviour was quite serious.
He also said Mr Dann had gone to extensive lengths to track down the driver to give him a letter of apology.
“The driver has acknowledged his efforts,” Mr Dann’s solicitor said.
“He’s a remorseful and caring person and he now wishes to go forward. There is a good positive change in his behaviour.
“He has overcome a past of mental health issues.”
The Prosecutor asked Magistrate David Price to treat the attack as an aggravating factor, as bus drivers are considered vulnerable victims.
He noted the bus driver was trapped and had nowhere to go, and highlighted Mr Dann’s criminal history.
“There’s a pattern of him not being able to keep his hands to himself,” he said.
Magistrate Price labelled the conduct ‘reprehensible’ but felt he had demonstrated genuine remorse, noting Mr Dann pleaded guilty early in proceedings.
“He went out of his way to apologise to the bus driver,” he said.
He sentenced Mr Dann to a nine month intensive corrections order, with conditions he must comply with mental health treatment and any drug or alcohol rehabilitation programs.