A MAN has been fined after two off-duty police officers saw him driving a bus containing about 30 passengers while using his mobile phone.

Stephen Wright, 39, from Lucerne Road, Redcar, east Cleveland, admitted the offence of driving while using a mobile phone in Fulford Road, York, on September 19.

Sarah Tyrer, prosecuting at Northallerton Magistrates’ Court, said two officers had seen Wright using his mobile phone while operating a York Pullman coach.

She said: “You were driving on Fulford Road towards the centre of York at about 6.05pm.

“Due to the traffic you were driving slowly and this gave two off-duty police officers a good opportunity to observe you talking on your mobile phone for about 30 or 40 seconds.

“The officer has said in his statement that when he stopped the bus to talk with you on this matter, you seemed more concerned with losing your licence rather than the safety of your passengers.”

Wright changed his plea at the last instance, but continued to maintain he had not driven while talking on the phone.

He told the court: “I was stationary when I had hold of my mobile phone and was considering ringing the company to tell them about a fault with the bus.

“I put the safety of my passengers above all else and it is an insult for anybody to suggest I don’t.”

Wright’s licence was endorsed with three penalty points, and he was ordered to pay £225 prosecution costs, a £95 fine and a £15 victim surcharge.