May 19, 2010

Woman admits slapping bus driver

A 21-year-old woman who tried to get on a Christchurch bus by paying a child?s fare ended up assaulting the woman driver.

The driver slapped by Bonny Cavender Simmance received a bruise, swelling, and tenderness and was upset by the assault.

Simmance, unemployed, pleaded guilty in the Christchurch District Court today to a charge of assault.

Defence counsel Tom Stevens told Judge David Holderness that Simmance and a friend had got on a bus to ride home on a Sunday evening.

Simmance did not have enough money and tried to pay a child?s fare.

The driver refused and the friend ? who had paid an adult fare ? tried to get a refund so she could get off to stay with her.

The driver said there were no refunds and an argument developed.

The driver was on the radio-telephone to the bus depot when Simmance slapped her, Mr Stevens said.

Simmance?s father wrote a letter to the court saying that his daughter had been in hospital until two months before the incident and new medication was now working well.

Judge Holderness said the driver received a significant bruise that she had to put up with for quite some time.

He imposed a fine of $375 and ordered Simmance to pay reparations of $50 for losses that were not covered by ACC.