Moray bus driver grabbed by throat and had blue liquid squirted in his face during attack in Buckie

A bus driver was attacked by two passengers he’d ticked off because they were pressing the vehicle's buzzer too often.

Dean Wells responded by grabbing the Stagecoach employee by the throat while Chloe Ross squirted blue liquid in his face.

The assault occurred in front of shocked passengers during the afternoon of July 14 in Great Eastern Road, Buckie.

Speaking at Inverness Sheriff Court, fiscal depute Emily Hood said: "As the bus approached the stop, again the buzzer went off and Ross charged down the front of the bus and approached the cab.

“She then shouted back to Wells 'he's phoning the police'.

"The driver then exited the bus and stood on the pavement nearby."

Ross, who’s aged 24 and lives at Chesworth Gardens, Elgin, squirted the liquid as the driver got back on board.

Ms Hood added: "Wells was heard to shout 'give us our ******* money back then', and made various threats to assault the driver and another member of the public who was trying to assist.

"Wells then reached into the front cab and managed to remove a £10 note from a drawer.”

The court heard that the driver was grabbed by the throat when he tried to stop Wells.

Both defendants fled on foot.

The driver contacted the police to report the incident which had been captured on CCTV.

Both defendants were traced and arrested the same day, then taken to Elgin Police Station.

Ms Hood continued: "While in the custody suite, two detective constables attended Wells' cell to obtain DNA and he immediately became hostile and aggressive, adopting a fighting stance while clenching his fists, but was fended off and restrained."

Wells, who’s aged 32 and is currently detained in Inverness Prison, admitted assault and robbery and threatening behaviour.

Ross, a first time offender who’s aged 24 and lives at Chesworth Gardens, Elgin, admitted a charge of assault.

Sentence was deferred on both of them until December 23 so that social workers can prepare a report on their backgrounds.