SOUTHPORT
5 September 2018
Vol 25 l Issue 36
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WOMEN ATTACKED ON BUS AFTER THEY COMPLAINED ABOUT ROWDY PASSENGERS Mum dragged by hair off vehicle and punched in face while daughter was dragged into bush Report by Danielle Thompson
The police want to speak to the man pictured, above, with a pint pot in his hand and the woman shown below, centre.
A POLICE appeal has been launched to track down a man and woman who assaulted and verbally abused two passengers on a bus journey from Southport to Preston. The passengers - a mother and her daughter - were travelling on an early evening Stagecoach bus when they were confronted by the pair. The mum, aged 56, was dragged off the vehicle by her hair and the daughter, 39, was dragged into a bush before the mum was then punched in the face. The shocking incident happened when the bus stopped near to the New Fleetwood Pub in Banks on Thursday, July 12, but police have only just released an appeal to find the offenders. The man had earlier stepped onto the bus holding a pint pot in his hand and both he and the woman, say police, were ‘under the influence of alcohol’. It is believed that the two women passengers had complained about the conduct of a group of people on the bus. The pair subjected the woman and her daughter to verbal abuse with the mother being dragged off the bus by her hair by the female offender, who also dragged the daughter into a bush. The man then punched the mother in the face. The woman offender - pictured left - is described as white, in her late 40s with shoulder length brown hair.
She was wearing a white top, orange trousers, an orange scarf and had orange painted fingernails. The man, also pictured left, was white, around 5ft 6ins, of stocky build with short brown and greying hair and facial stubble. He was wearing a navy blue shirt. Following the attack the pair got back on the bus and continued their journey. PC Dave Rigby from Tarleton Police said: “The two victims are understandably shaken by their ordeal which began after a complaint to the bus driver about a noisy, aggressive group of passengers who were banging on the floor of the top deck and shouting. “We need anyone who recognises these people to come forward and speak to us. Similarly if you were on the bus at the time and have any information that could assist with our investigation, please get in touch.” The Stagecoach website outlines in its ‘conditions of carriage’ that customers must “behave in a manner that is not abusive or threatening and does not cause offence to other customers or staff; refrain from consuming alcohol and must refrain from playing loud music at a volume which may be heard by other passengers.” A spokesperson for the company told the Champion that they are unable to comment on this incident as it is an ongoing police investigation. They said that they will continue to do ‘everything they can’ to assist officers with the inquiry. Anyone with information should contact Lancashire Police on 01772 412987 or 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
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