VIDEO: Dramatic video from Plymouth bus CCTV after incident in St Judes
DRAMATIC video footage captures the moment a quick-thinking bus driver comes to the rescue of a terrified city man.
Detectives are hunting a yob who subjected the Indian-born store manager to a tirade of abuse and threats in broad daylight.
The 36-year-old victim was waiting at the bus-stop in Embankment Road, at the junction of Laira Street in St Judes, at around 7.45am on Saturday, March 16.
While he was waiting for the bus to take him to work, he passed the time talking on his mobile phone to family in India.
At one stage a group of young men walked past him, police say, one of the group turning back and heading towards him.
Detective Constable Louise Steele, lead investigator, said the victim could not remember the words used, but the man quickly became aggressive and began shouting and swearing at him.
At one stage the man was pushed backwards.
By chance, a bus driver saw the incident unfolding and pulled up, opening the doors of the vehicle to allow the victim refuge before quickly shutting him safely inside.
But the suspect began to kick the doors and then pressed the emergency door release button.
Det Con Steele said: "The bus driver said she very much felt the tone of the comments which the suspect used were racially motivated. She allowed the victim to remain on the bus until the suspect had walked off and had gone out of sight.
"The victim thanked her and got off to await his own bus.
"The driver saw the man rejoin his friends when she drove down the road, but saw that they appeared very unhappy with his actions and he was hit by one of his group.
"We also understand there was another man waiting at the same bus stop who may have witnessed the whole incident.
"We want to hear from this potential witness, or anyone from the suspect's group or anyone who was in the area at the time.
"This has left the victim really quite frightened. He has been the victim of racist abuse in the past, but in this instance he was unsure whether this was racially motivated. However, the bus driver was clear it was and that it appeared the suspect was goading the man into fighting him."
If you can assist police in identifying the man shown, call police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 quoting crime reference EC/13/1593.
21 Comments
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by Herpthederps
Sunday, March 24 2013, 7:38PM
“Oh dear, you really are quite thick aren't you? Pogle63a
I'll spell it out for you.....
I hate these people calling themselves English was in reference to the Chavvy little peon Kicking the bus. If you had bothered to read my original comment (as suggested) The second sentence alluded to the nature of the antagonist.
Would have thought that you'd have guessed it from the assumed racism comment but never mind.
Oh and a Peon is an unskilled or manual worker, neither of which I am. Here's a link so you don't look quite so silly in future: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peon”
by pogle63a
Friday, March 22 2013, 1:51AM
“Ah here we see Herpthederps is probably the pleb in the video he has obviously stolen a laptop and logged on to see himself being a chopper on line and taken offense at our more than generous summaries of his mental and social standing in society.
I am sorry Herpthederps but there is only one peon on this site and it is indeed yourself. Hopefully the old bill will be knocking on your door very soon and we "peons" will enjoy reading of your demise in the hands of the courts.”
by TheStig
Thursday, March 21 2013, 11:17PM
“Gd effort from the female bus driver! shame their wasnt a couple decent lads on the bus to cough escort the abusive chav to a back lane for a diplomatic chat.”
by Herpthederps
Thursday, March 21 2013, 8:14PM
“@nerds unite, because the racist Chavvy little peons can't type.
Either that or people didn't read the post properly and assumed racism.”
by CityCyclops
Thursday, March 21 2013, 6:48PM
“This is what makes me nervous about Plymouth getting the city of culture status. The place isn't quite ready for it and all the mood music on the blogs to push it, are from avaricious business people desperate to cash in on what they hope it can line their pockets with. Culture is far more about the human worth than monetary worth.”
by pogle63a
Thursday, March 21 2013, 6:25PM
“Yep I bet this video won`t be played at the City of Culture presentation, at least not by Tudors toadies, maybe the MP for Southend on Sea will use it.
Best of it is this idiot was caught on CCTV but there are plenty of other doughnuts out there just as culturally challenged.”
by nerdsunite
Thursday, March 21 2013, 5:35PM
“why are people putting down other peoples posts?”
by Herpthederps
Thursday, March 21 2013, 1:17PM
“I hate these people calling themselves English.
I am English and I'm sick to death of you racist Chavvy little Peons.”
by Devonportboy
Thursday, March 21 2013, 1:09PM
“agree with all the comments on here except
"And this is why Plymouth shouldn't be awarded capital of culture."
really? Because of the activities of one mindless idiot? You could argue that a bit more culture or awareness if it is precisely what this idiot needs-culture in general terms is one of the most potent ways we challenge behaviour like this.”
by gabry
Thursday, March 21 2013, 12:20PM
“Same happens to my daughter,16, while talking on the phone with me in Italian, on the school bus... :(”