Pensioner in court for unprovoked attack

9:50pm Tuesday 7th October 2008

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A PENSIONER who launched an unprovoked attack on a bus passenger was told to "grow up" at a court hearing.

Vincent Dinsdale, 65, of Wordsworth Road in the Parkside area of Darlington, lashed out at Keith Davidson who was sitting behind him on the bus.

The blow, which hit him on the side of the face, was particularly painful for Mr Davidson who had been receiving treatment for a mouth abscess.

Darlington Magistrates Court heard how Dinsdale then lashed out a second time, but Mr Davidson managed to parry the blow.

Dinsdale got off the bus and boarded another nearby where he was arrested after being identified by witnesses.

He pleaded guilty to the offence of common assault, and admitted that he had been drinking before the incident, which happened on July 22.

District judge John Maxwell said the offence was serious enough to warrant a jail sentence.

He added: "Behaving like this on public transport warrants being sent to prison straight away no doubt about it. It frightens other people.

I look at your age and it is about time you grew up.

"If I sent you to prison is it going to do any good? Probably not. It would be a waste of tax payers' money."

Mr Maxwell chose instead to impose a £300 compensation order on Mr Dinsdale.

"I am going to get you to stop drinking for a bit by taking some of your money from you," he said.

"It will cut into your funds for your alcohol and your betting. You should be ashamed of yourself."

Dinsdale was also given a two year conditional discharge and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £43.

In mitigation, Alan Meehan said alcohol was behind many of Dinsdale's problems.

He added: "He could drink 30 alcoholic drinks a day. He is banned from many public houses in Darlington for one reason or another."