A father-of-10 was sacked from his job as a bus driver after getting into a wrestling match with a passenger who threw a can of drink at his head.

David Newstead, who lives with his family in Landseer Avenue, Northfleet, was dismissed from his job at Go Ahead bus company for ‘gross misconduct’ following the ruckus in the centre of Bexleyheath on March 27.

The 44-year-old grappled with Tyler Belgrave-Breeds, 23, in front of dozens of onlookers at the stop in Mayplace Road West at just after 7.50am.

Belgrave-Breeds repeatedly turned the nearside wing mirror of the number 89 bus back-to-front as a prank after getting into an argument with Mr Newstead over his friend Sean Dickson’s ejection from the bus for having an out-of-date pass.

Newstead kept turning it back round again but lost his temper when Belgrave-Breeds threw a full can of drink at him while his back was turned.

In CCTV footage played to Bromley Magistrates’ Court on Friday (October 17), Mr Newstead can be seen chasing Belgrave-Breeds, who then trips over before the driver falls on top of him.

A group of rush hour onlookers crowd round while the pair wrestle on the pavement, with Dickson joining in.

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Belgrave-Breeds, of Brastead Road, Erith, and Dickson, 23, of Lowfield Street, Dartford, after the pair failed to turn up to their trial.

They were both found guilty of affray in their absence.

Newstead admitted the same offence and was given a conditional discharge in August.

He told News Shopper: "I feel very angry as they have cost me my livelihood.

"What was the point? A £2 bus fare is all this is about.

"They have got no problems and probably aren’t even working.

News Shopper:

The incident happened while Mr Newstead was driving the number 89 bus in Bexleyheath (image by Mark Pitman).

"They have got no worries and no cares while every week I’m thinking ‘oh god, how am I going to pay the bills?’"

Newstead says he is struggling to support his large family on the £250 a week he makes driving school buses part-time for a friend’s company.

His eldest son Chris, 24, is the only sibling who does not live at home in the Newstead’s four bedroom council house, where the youngest is 18-month-old Victoria.

Newstead claims he can’t get a full-time job with another bus company because of what happened.

He said: "I am disgusted with Go Ahead.

"I was twice spat upon by different passengers in incidents prior to this then when it happened they just turned their back on me.

"They have just abandoned me."

Retired magician Brian Buzzing, 78, was on the number 89 bus at the time of the incident and gave evidence at the trial of Belgrave-Breeds and Dickson.

He told magistrates: "They were really goading the driver into responding, into a fight.

"Both the accused attacked the driver, there was no question about that."

Mitigating on behalf of Belgrave-Breeds, David Prosser said: "It is not enough to be antagonistic, it is not enough to goad, only to threaten to use violence and I would suggest at no point does my client do that.

"The only time he used violence was when he was attacked by Mr Newstead."

A Go Ahead spokesman said: "Decisions of internal hearings are a matter for the company and employee concerned and we are not at liberty to comment on such issues."