Schoolboy charged after bus driver 'hit in the head with glass bottle' in Paisley

A schoolboy has been charged after a bus driver was allegedly assaulted with a glass bottle in Paisley.

The incident happened onboard McGill Buses’ number 61 service while it was stopped on Gauze Street around 8.45pm on Tuesday.

The bus operating company said that the employee was driving the number 61 service when they interacted with a group of youths congregated at a stop on the route.

“The driver was assaulted with a glass bottle to the head as he returned to his cab and is believed to have been kicked in the back during the incident,” a spokesperson said.

Police were called to the scene and confirmed the driver had sustained a head injury but did not require hospital treatment at the time.

The force said that a 13-year-old male youth had been charged in connection with the incident, and officers are working to trace a second person.

Enquiries into the incident are ongoing with McGill supplying the police with CCTV footage to help their investigation.

A spokesperson for McGill’s Buses said: “An assault on one of our drivers on our number 61 service took place in Paisley town centre on Tuesday, April 2, shortly after 8.30pm.

“Following interaction with a group of youths who were congregated at a stop, the driver was assaulted with a glass bottle to the head as he returned to his cab. It is also believed that he was kicked in the back during the incident.

“A passenger on board the bus helped the driver during this incident and our thanks go to them for their assistance.

“Police also attended the scene quickly and we appreciate their swift response.

“We are now in the process of supplying CCTV footage of the incident to police to help them identify the perpetrators.

“This is a reprehensible attack on one of our colleagues and McGill’s Group will do everything it can to ensure that justice is brought to bear on those responsible.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 8.45pm on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, police were called to a report that a bus driver had been allegedly assaulted on a bus on Gauze Street, Paisley.

“He sustained a head injury during the assault but did not require hospital treatment at the time.

“A 13-year-old male youth has been charged in connection with the incident. Enquiries are ongoing to trace a second person.”