A BUS driver was left terrified after being kicked and punched by a teenager in a "totally unprovoked attack", a court heard yesterday.

Stagecoach driver Gordon Alexander was set upon by a gang of youths when he stopped his bus at the Firthmoor terminus in Darlington to pick up a passenger.

Darlington Youth Court heard that although there was an angry exchange between the driver and several of the teenagers, the 17-year-old who attacked Mr Alexander had not been involved, and had decided to join in while he was cycling past.

The bus driver was left with a head wound and a split lip after the incident, which happened at about 9.15pm on February 19.

The court was told how Mr Alexander's attacker - who cannot be named for legal reasons - grabbed him from behind, forced him to the ground, and then tried to drag him from the bus when he managed to scramble back on board.

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, said that, when the bus stopped, members of the gang pressed the emergency stop button in the boot, which makes the engine cut out.

When the driver got out, a water bottle was thrown at him, and Mr Alexander told the youths to "grow up".

"A youth came towards him and took a swing at him, he put his arm up to protect himself and managed to push him away," she said. "The driver next remembers getting up off the floor and a female passenger saying 'Leave him alone'.

"The youth continued throwing punches at him and kicking him. He feared considerably for his own safety."

Rob Hutchinson, mitigating, said: "He understood what he had done was wrong, and he wished this whole incident had never taken place."

The defendant admitted affray and breaching a supervision order that had been imposed on him only days before the attack. Magistrates adjourned sentencing until May 26 for reports to be prepared.

Chairwoman of the bench Aileen Little told him his behaviour was awful.

She said: "There was no need to get involved. The general public does not need to be at risk of people behaving like that, and this bus driver was doing a public service.

"We hope you are very ashamed of your actions."