Bus driver repeatedly punched 65-year-old-cyclist – for complaining he had been cut up on Portland Street.

A bus driver repeatedly punched a pensioner cyclist who complained about being cut up.
Grandfather-of-six Harry Clare, 65, told a court he was heading along Portland Street in Manchester when the double-decker forced him onto the pavement.
He followed it to Piccadilly bus station and went to the driver’s window, thinking he might get an apology.
But the bus driver, former police officer Neil Whittaker-Axon, leaned out and began repeatedly punching him, lifting him off the ground by his collar and smashing his sunglasses.
Whittaker-Axon, 38, walked free from court having been found guilty of common assault by beating – after magistrates were told he had been made homeless after losing his job at bus firm Finglands.
The father-of-two had denied the charge, claiming he had acted in self-defence after being hit by Mr Clare, a retired joiner.
But three independent witnesses, including another bus driver, said Whittaker-Axon was the aggressor.
Mr Clare told Manchester magistrates’ court: "I thought the guy might have apologised to me and I followed him there to say what on earth is the problem." He added: "His body language said he wasn’t going to shake my hand. I heard the window slam. He reached out and grabbed me by the back of the collar of my clothing. He yanked me to the side of the bus. I felt my head banging against something and something banging against my helmet."
Witness Jacqueline Hearle said she was ‘horrified’ when she saw the bus driver repeatedly punching Mr Clare.
Another witness, Davina Beresford, said: "He was aiming strikes at his head."
Frederick Marfleet, a driver with Finglands, said: "I couldn't believe it. It’s not something you do is it, hitting people?"
Whittaker-Axon, now of Broom Lane, Levenshulme, told the court: "I was defending myself. I felt he had committed an offence and I wanted him to be arrested and charged with it."
The court heard Mr Clare tried to get the driver’s attention after being cut up on Portland Street on May 11, but was given a V-sign. Whittaker-Axon had been a bus driver for one-and-a-half years after previously working for the police in London.
He was fined £150 and ordered to pay £100 costs, £175 compensation and a £15 victim surcharge. The fine and compensation will come out of his benefits.
Chairman of the Bench Colin Thompson said: "It’s very sad. You’re not an ordinary person, you’ve been a public servant."
Mr Clare, from Newton Heath, said after the case: "It was a shock to the system and it took me some time to get over it. It was the right verdict.” Manchester Ev News 2011/11/17

The old `self-defence’ trick seems less reliable these days – particularly once one has hung-up their best blue.

111118

why i don't use public transport

aint it a skill bus drivers have - cutting up?

Ziggy

question is how the **** can a cyclist cut up a buss?

Unknown Being said:

question is how the **** can a cyclist cut up a buss?

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otherway around

the bus made the cyclist mount the kerb as he squeezed him

ziggy

well most drivers leave buses and lorrys well alone so how can they be that stressed driving?

Unknown Being said:

well most drivers leave buses and lorrys well alone so how can they be that stressed driving?

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The main stresses that bus and truck drivers come under is time related. Finglands is a small company, in fact tiny in comparison to the likes of Stagecoach and Arriva so perhaps there are more time pressures on that company than the big boys.

But, at least from my armchair, that in no way excuses his actions. A 38 year old should be able to defend himself from a 65 year old, in fact if he'd once been a Cop with the Met he should have been able to remember how to use breakaway and restraint techniques to keep himself safe and restrain the chap until those still employed as Cops arrived.

The Beard said:

The main stresses that bus and truck drivers come under is time related. Finglands is a small company, in fact tiny in comparison to the likes of Stagecoach and Arriva so perhaps there are more time pressures on that company than the big boys.

But, at least from my armchair, that in no way excuses his actions. A 38 year old should be able to defend himself from a 65 year old, in fact if he'd once been a Cop with the Met he should have been able to remember how to use breakaway and restraint techniques to keep himself safe and restrain the chap until those still employed as Cops arrived.

Click to expand...

You'd hope he would also know that "cutting someone up" is hardly likely to pass the necessity test to arrest someone

The filth decided to pull my dad over after he half-pulled out in front of them in a roundabout.

He told 'em where to go. Couple of clowns on a power trip. If I had a pound for every time a Panda car has pulled out in front of me I'd be able to afford a pint...in the centre of London!

Only an idiot would try and justify what this berk did with self defence. Ex-copper that thinks he is the law. Tonnes of 'em about, just need to be brought back down to earth.

i had a copper who ideally would have pulled out in-front of me the other day i held my ground and left him in the road
made me feel good cause i slowed towards a junction what he was not oart of and he tried to move in as my front passed his

I once had two old bill look at me a bit funny so I rammed their car off the road, beat them up, handcuffed them, chucked 'em in the boot, drove them to Epping Forest, chopped their heads off and buried them in a shallow grave!

Self defence mate, you'll be reet.