Bus driver suspended after stone-throwing suspicion
A Dundee bus driver has been accused of assaulting himself in the head with a rock, reportedly in a bid to claim compensation cash.
- By Kieran Andrews
- Published in the Courier : 16.08.10
- Published online : 16.08.10 @ 04.12pm
Shaun Cashley (27) has been suspended by National Express Dundee after suspicion was aroused that he was not the victim of hooligans hurling a stone into his vehicle late last month.
Police had previously said CCTV recordings could be key in tracking down the "mindless" vandals who it was claimed threw the object at Mr Cashley's number 28/29 single-decker bus as he drove it through Lochee on July 28.
It is understood that footage has led to management at National Express questioning whether the driver made up the incident, which took place at around 9.30pm, and instead assaulted himself in a bid to collect a payout. He could now face the sack if the allegations against him are proven to be true.
Mr Cashley suffered concussion and a cut to the forehead and was taken to Ninewells Hospital after claiming he was struck by the stone while he was preparing to let a passenger off the bus opposite Adamson's Court. He was signed off work to recuperate from his injuries following the incident.
A National Express spokesman confirmed that disciplinary action was under way against Mr Cashley and that Tayside Police had become involved. He said, "The driver has been suspended while we continue the investigate the incident."
A Tayside Police spokeswoman said, "Inquiries into this alleged incident are ongoing. Nobody has been charged at this time."
Despite attempts by The Courier to contact Mr Cashley, he was unavailable for comment.
A public appeal was launched following the apparent stone-throwing, although Mr Cashley was not named at that time. In the days following the appeal National Express Dundee director Lawrence Davie condemned the "mindless actions" of the yobs accused of throwing the stones.
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