A BUS driver heading from Andover to Salisbury was left "angry and upset" when they were racially abused last summer.

Now, Tyler Morgan, aged 31, of Shears Drive, Amesbury, has pleaded guilty to the racially aggravated offence, and must pay £200 in compensation.

On the morning of June 7, the driver of a Stagecoach bus, on the Activ8 service from Andover to Salisbury, had been subjected to racial abuse from Morgan.

Police officers released a witness appeal at the time asking for information to identify Morgan, who was captured on CCTV footage from the bus.

Acting on information provided by members of the public, police identified Morgan who was interviewed at Amesbury Police Station in August last year, before being reported for a public order offence at that time.

Heard at Salisbury Magistrates' Court on Monday, May 17, Morgan was given a 12-month community order where he must take part in a maximum of 20 days rehabilitation activity requirement, in addition to the £200 payment.

Following the hearing, local crime investigator Martin Batchelor said: “We are pleased to secure this sentence and hope it provides some reassurance that racial abuse won’t be tolerated.

“The driver, rightly, felt angry and upset by the comments made to him by Morgan.

“Nobody should be subjected to such abuse based purely on their ethnicity, especially when at work serving the public.

“We hope that getting this to court proves that we take this type of offence incredibly seriously.

Mr Batchelor added: “I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank those members of the public who assisted us with our appeal.

"It shows the importance of community information and I would encourage you to contact us if you have any information relating to our appeals, no matter how small you think it might be.”