Bus driver left in pain as attacker walks free over $50 assault
THE family of a Surfside bus driver viciously assaulted when he couldn’t give change for $50 are “furious” his attacker’s escaped jail.
Crime and Court
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THE family of a Surfside bus driver viciously assaulted after he was unable to give change for a $50 note are “furious” his attacker has escaped jail.
Robert Sutherland was driving a bus in Southport in March last year when Jean-Adelphe Lasm got on and started arguing when his Go-Card failed and he was unable to get change from $50.
Mr Sutherland, then 63, was punched repeatedly in the head before he was pulled off the bus and kicked in the head.
Lasm pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court yesterday to serious assault on a person over 60.
Lasm was sentenced to nine months imprisonment to be suspended after three days, which were served in the Southport Watchhouse after he was arrested.
The decision meant the 21-year-old attacker walked free from court.
Mr Sutherland’s daughter Karen South said she couldn’t believe the sentence.
“I’m furious that he can be doing a very low risk job on the Gold Coast, doing a public service driving a bus, and for this to happen and for him to be injured at 63 years of age,” she said.
“If he didn’t have such a long, violent history of assault, robbery and all the rest of it I probably would be OK.”
Ms South said her father had decided not to have surgery on his wrist as it would mean six months off work.
“When he holds the steering wheel it causes pain in his wrist but he can’t afford to not go to work,” she said.
“He’ll just keep working for as long as he can, until he can’t hold the steering wheel any more.”
The court heard that after the assault Lasm collected his $45 and fled the scene.
Barrister Claire Boothman told the court Lasm was born on the Ivory Coast and had a disjointed upbringing.
“What started as an innocent transaction went horribly wrong,” she said.
She said Lasm was now living in Sydney and had made steps towards rehabilitation. Magistrate Kerry Magee said Mr Sutherland suffered from a tear to the ligament in his wrist.
She said the attack happened while Mr Sutherland was going about his duties as a bus driver.
“It was particularly nasty, unpleasant and sustained,” she said.
Lasm was ordered to pay $3000 compensation to the victim.
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