AN IRATE passenger attacked a bus driver after a row over a 30p fare, a court heard.

Christopher Douglas Mallory, 27, was so angry the driver had not been able to change his £5 note, that he beat him up.

Martin Butterworth, prosecuting, said Mallory boarded the 492 Arriva bus service in Woodlands Avenue, Tadcaster. He tried to pay for the 30p fare into Tadcaster town centre with a £5 note.

Driver James Dickenson said he did not have enough change, and Mallory began to argue with him, but eventually an elderly passenger offered to change Mallory's note for him.

Mallory, of Windmill Rise, Tadcaster, took the bus on the five-minute journey into the town centre. There, he waited patiently for all the other passengers to leave, before hitting Mr Dickenson in the face.

Mr Butterworth said Mallory shouted, "You are a right f****** a*******", then swung his fist round the side of the assault screen, hitting Mr Dickenson on the left side of the face and knocking his glasses off.

He said: "The two left the bus, and there was further grappling between them. Mr Dickenson had to raise his arms to protect himself to fend off the blows."

Mallory denied the charge, but Selby magistrates found him guilty of assault. Mitigating, Dennis Lofthouse said Mallory had suffered from ill health for a number of years. He said his mental wellbeing and physical health had been deteriorating.

Presiding magistrate Brian Shooter said: "Public servants, like bus drivers or taxi drivers, have a job to do, and are not sitting there to be attacked verbally or physically. You went with a view to causing an argument, and there was some element of premeditation because you waited for the other passengers to get off."

Mallory was given a 12-month community rehabilitation order, and was ordered to pay £100 compensation to Mr Dickenson, plus £9.99 to buy him a new pair of glasses. He must also pay £150 towards the cost of his trial.

After the case, Phil Booker, commercial director of Arriva Yorkshire, told the Evening Press: "We will always seek to prosecute anyone who abuses any of our drivers. Their safety, and our customers' safety, is central to everything we do."

Updated: 08:53 Thursday, April 28, 2005