A B.C. man who pleaded guilty to assaulting two working bus drivers in Vancouver and Richmond has been sentenced to a 60-day conditional sentence order and 12 months’ probation.
Vancouver Provincial Court Judge Reginald Harris heard the man — who Glacier Media has chosen not to name — has a past history of assaulting servers, people who were just doing their jobs.
Harris said the offences had to be denounced as they were against bus drivers who perform a hard job while in a vulnerable position.
“Their tasks are incredibly stressful, I would imagine,” Harris said.
In the recent cases, one involved an April 14 trip on a bus ending at UBC. The man fell asleep and was woken by the driver who said he could stay on the bus but not sleep, Crown prosecutor Ryan Elias told Harris.
However, after the man stretched out on a seat, the driver again approached.
This time, the man became aggressive and threatened to kill the driver. The driver ran with the man in pursuit until the RCMP arrived and he was arrested.
Six days later, the man was on an East Hastings bus organizing his things. He became agitated with the operator’s driving as the braking made his organizing hard.
“He grew very irate,” Elias said.
The man began pounding on the driver’s box. He got off the bus but then got back on.
Then, he began swinging around the driver’s barrier, hitting him several times. The driver called for help and the man soon was arrested.
Elias told Harris the man’s acts of violence involved “uncontrollable rage” at minimal inconveniences.
Lawyer Leo Fumano spoke passionately in defence of his client, a man he said he has known for almost three decades.
He said the 49-year-old had worked as a film industry driver and had been making a six-figure salary.
“He could fund his recreational drugs and that was the issue,” Fumano said. “He lost his job.”
Fumano said the man is now homeless.
Apology
Before Harris passed sentence, he asked the man if he had anything to say.
“I just want to apologize for anyone I have affected with my actions,” the man said. “I’m not the same person I was when I made the wrong behaviour.”
He told Harris he works for a needle exchange depot and volunteers with a homeless organization.
The court also heard he’s attending 12-step group meetings for his substance abuse issues.
“I’m more comfortable with who I am and not blaming others for my situation,” he said. “I stay away from trouble altogether.”
