Man jailed for spitting in bus driver's face during lockdown

Kevin Simpson, 45, of Brockley Road, approached the open driver’s window of an N11 when it was stationary at the Ludgate Circus traffic lights at around 4.30am on May 13, asking for the doors to be opened.

When the driver explained she could not do this at traffic lights as it was unsafe, suggesting Simpson walk to the next bus stop where she could pick him up, he put his head through the open window and spat in her face.

The driver managed to close the window, after which Simpson spat again at the window itself.

Following this, the driver used her on-board “spit kit” to take a sample of the saliva, which was then used by police to identify him, leading to his arrest.

Officers visited Simpson’s address on June 5 but he was not at home. He handed himself in the next day at Bishopsgate police station knowing he was wanted.

Simpson was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison, after pleading guilty to one offence of Actual Bodily Harm (ABH) at London Magistrates Court on August 18.

Police Constable David Holmes from the City of London Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) said: “This sentence reflects the severity of a crime that could have been significantly more harmful, had Simpson been infected with coronavirus when the attack took place.

"Thanks to the driver’s mindfulness to get a sample of Simpson’s saliva, despite just being victim of such a horrible act, we were able to identify and arrest him.

“Nobody should have to be afraid of being assaulted whilst they go about their job, especially in such a disgusting manner, at a time when fears are heightened and the need to safeguard our personal health has never been greater. 

"Concerns around protecting ourselves and our key workers from coronavirus are at the forefront of everyone’s minds right now, and rightly so. 

"We want to reassure the public that we are taking instances such as this extremely seriously and bringing the perpetrators of these crimes to justice.”