Disabled bus user in 'taunts' complaint

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Disabled bus user in 'taunts' complaint

Jan 18 2008

By Jane Stirland

THE boss of a bus company has vowed to trace a bus driver who

allegedly taunted a disabled man by telling him he couldn't get on

unless he could show a photograph of himself on a fairground ride.

Victim Alistair Verney, aged 33, of Stoney Stanton Road, Hillfields,

Coventry, claims he had two encounters with the same driver on the

X17 service run by Stagecoach.

The City College student, who is partially sighted and has Asperger's

syndrome - a form of autism - and walkinging difficulties, said the

first incident occurred when he boarded the X17 Leamington to

Coventry bus opposite the White Lion pub in Warwick Road, Kenilworth,

at about 3pm on December 20, after visiting an aunt in the town.

Former Exhall Grange School pupil Mr Verney said: " I got on the bus

and the driver boasted to me about the fairground rides he had been

on. I said I didn't like them and he called me a 'wuss' and said he

would not pick me up again unless I showed him a picture of me on a

ride. "

He said the second incident occurred when he attempted to board the

same service to Kenilworth outside Sainsbury's supermarket in Trinity

Street, Coventry city centre, on Friday, January 4, at about 5pm.

" I tried to get on his bus again and he asked me if I had a picture.

When I said I hadn't, he wouldn't let me on. "

He said the bus then drove off.

Alistair said that in the time between the two incidents he

complained to Stagecoach which he said told him there was little it

could do without the driver's name and the bus number.

Phil Medlicott, managing director of Stagecoach Warwickshire,

said: " I apologise to the gentleman concerned. I give him my

assurance that such behaviour from a bus driver is not acceptable.

" I will do whatever I can to identify the driver and make sure that

he is dealt with. "