School bus driver charged with assault of Central Otago child

A 78-year-old man is facing charges of assault in relation to a June incident on a Central Otago school bus. Photo / NZH

A 78-year-old man is facing charges of assault in relation to a June incident on a Central Otago school bus.

A police spokeswoman yesterday said the man had been charged with assault of a child and assault with intent to injure, and would appear in court later this month.

Prior to charges being laid, the Otago Daily Times reported the relief driver lost his job amid allegations he grabbed one primary school-aged child around the neck before shaking them, and pushed another child's legs to the ground while on a routine school run.

The alleged incident was witnessed by a number of children and teenagers on the bus, with many of the younger pupils left shaken and crying for the remainder of the journey.

Parents were outraged by the driver's actions and Go Bus terminated his employment.

The Otago Daily Times interviewed the parents of two children who saw the alleged incident but has chosen not to name them or identify the bus route involved, to protect the children who were on board.

The mother said her 9-year-old and 5-year-old children had reported what allegedly happened to her.

She said one mother had questioned the bus driver and another, the mother of a boy allegedly assaulted, had stepped on to the bus to ask what had happened.

She had contacted Go Bus and did not initially get a response.

"I found it incredibly difficult to get a contact number for them.

"I used their contact forum and said there was a, in my opinion, serious bus incident and I wanted to be called immediately."