Tauranga man admits assaulting two bus drivers

Tauranga man Joshua Ian Torlesse, 37, pleaded guilty to two assault charges in the Tauranga District Court on March 6. Photo /File

A man who punched two bus drivers says he did it because one of the drivers "got lippy" with him.

Joshua Ian Torlesse, 37, pleaded guilty to two charges of assault in Tauranga District Court yesterdayafter he got angry at a bus driver for being denied a ride.

When the driver would not let him on the bus, Torlesse came back a short time later and confronted the driver. Torlesse then punched him in the face and walked away.

Another bus driver who saw the punch came over to check what was going on.

Torlesse then punched the first driver in the back of the head and kicked him around his head and leg while he was on the ground.

The second driver, who stood in front of the first driver to protect him, was also punched in the face, which knocked his glasses into the gutter, the court heard.

Torlesse walked off but was found by police a short time later.

The court heard that Torlesse told police that the first driver "got lippy" with him, so he "kicked him the a***", punched and kneed him.

The "second guy started picking on him" so he punched him in the head too, the court heard.

The first driver's injuries included a 2.5cm cut on the back of his head and bruising on his upper thigh, and the second driver suffered tenderness to his head and a bloodshot eye.

Torlesse was remanded on bail for sentencing on April 26.