A bus passenger “poked and prodded” and was racially abusive to a Suffolk bus driver who asked him to stop drinking wine out of a bottle, it has been alleged.
Robert Bradlaugh allegedly told Andre Dixon-Pierre “go back to where you are from” and “someone from here could have had your job”, Ipswich Crown Court was told.
Bradlaugh, 63, of St George’s Street, Ipswich, has denied racially aggravated assault by beating and an alternative charge of assault by beating.
He has also denied using racially aggravated threatening words and behaviour.
Joanne Eley, prosecuting, told the court that Mr Dixon-Pierre was employed by Galloway bus company and was driving a single-decker bus from Framlingham to Ipswich at around 4.15pm on April 10 this year.
Bradlaugh had got on the bus in Framlingham and sat near the back.
During the journey Mr Dixon-Pierre noticed Bradlaugh was drinking from a glass bottle and assuming it was alcohol, he stopped the bus and asked the defendant to stop drinking or to get off the bus.
Bradlaugh had allegedly started shouting at him and Mr Dixon-Pierre stopped the bus outside the Cretingham Bell pub and again told Bradlaugh he couldn’t drink on the bus, said Miss Eley.
The defendant then moved to the front of the bus towards the driver and allegedly started shouting and swearing at him, using racist language and prodding and poking him.
Bradlaugh had returned to the back of the bus and Mr Dixon-Pierre and a female passenger had got off the vehicle and Mr Dixon-Pierre contacted his manager for advice.
The police were called and Bradlaugh had got off the bus and allegedly continued shouting racist abuse at Mr Dixon-Pierre including saying: “ Why don’t you go back from where you are from” and “ someone from here could have had your job”, said Miss Eley.
A police officer arrived and arrested Bradlaugh and handcuffed him because of his intoxicated state.
Bradlaugh told police he had drunk alcohol while taking medication and said that when the driver asked him to stop drinking he had put the bottle in his bag.
Giving evidence Bradlaugh denied being racially abusive and prodding and poking the bus driver.
The trial continues.
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