An Ealing man has admitted racially abusing a London bus driver after footage went viral on social media.
Michael Mongan, 39, of Castle Road, Ealing, admitted offences of racially aggravated threatening behaviour and criminal damage when he appearing in custody at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on Saturday, 10th August 2024.
Using threatening behaviour is an offence under section 4 of the Public Order Act 1986. The maximum penalty on summary conviction is 26 weeks' custody and/or an unlimited fine.
However, section 31(1)(a) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 creates a racially aggravated version of the offence, of which Mongan has been convicted, which has a maximum penalty of 26 weeks' custody and/or an unlimited fine on summary conviction; 2 years' custody and/or an unlimited fine on conviction on indictment.
I have previously written a guide to the offence of using threatening behaviour, but Mongan's case is about as clear cut as it gets.
The court heard that the police were called to an incident on Coldharbour Lane, Hayes, shortly after midday on Wednesday, 7th August 2024.
A potential passenger, now identified as Mongan, was refused travel on a bus because he didn't have the means to pay for his journey.
Mongan was apparently aggrieved at the driver's decision, so decided to launch a tirade of racial abuse in his direction. He repeatedly referred to the driver as a "bastard" and "terrorist".
The angry 39-year-old then stepped close to the driver's partition and twice spat in his direction. He also thumped on the partition and challenged the driver to step out onto the pavement.
A passenger recorded footage of the incident. The 60 second clip spread like wildfire on social media, which quickly led to Mongan's identification.
Despite being a fairly short incident, it was very aggressive and no doubt made the driver and other passengers fearful for their personal safety.
Mongan was remanded in custody until his sentencing at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, 13th August 2024.
Detective Inspector Jonathan Potter, of the Metropolitan Police's Roads and Transport Policing Command, said: "The bus driver who was racially abused and spat at by Michael Mongan was simply doing his job.
"He and all other staff who work across London's transport network have a right to do so in safety, free from unacceptable threats and intimidation.
"I hope the fast response from our officers sends a clear message that we will act to hold those who behave in this way to account.
"I'm glad Mongan has been swiftly brought to justice and will now face the consequences of his actions."
Update (13/8/24): Mongan has now been sentenced.
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