Frank Kennedy jailed over Dumbarton Road bus madness

A man who caused mayhem after driving off while drunk in a bus with passengers, police and paramedics onboard, has been jailed for 24 months.

Frank Kennedy, 27, admitted taking control of the number 66 First Bus in Yoker, Glasgow, on 2 September.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard the driver and a female police officer were flung from the bus which smashed into an ambulance and other vehicles.

The bus was stopped after Kennedy's friend had been assaulted.

The court heard how bus driver Pawel Smetek stopped the vehicle after Kennedy's friend Steven McNee had been assaulted by another passenger.

Mr Smetek left his cab to dial 999 - but the key remained in the ignition as it was fixed.

Emergency services arrived and boarded the bus before Kennedy - who did not have a licence - was spotted getting behind the wheel.

Witnesses watched as Kennedy revved the bus and drove off with eight other passengers on board as well as two police officers and three paramedics.

Your record would frankly astonish, perhaps even shock members of the public”

Police constables Alana MacKinnon and Karin Buchanan tried to grab Kennedy, who swerved the single-decker.

The court heard how Mr Smetek and PC Buchanan were thrown from the open door of the bus before Kennedy smashed into a paramedic vehicle and an MG sports car.

Paramedics and some passengers tried to help Pc MacKinnon as she continued to struggle with Kennedy.

The bus then veered across the road striking a police vehicle and an ambulance.

A fence which was damaged then struck a car, before the bus came to a halt at an angle across Dumbarton Road.

The court heard how paramedics, police and passengers helped to restrain Kennedy who was eventually hand-cuffed.

When he was charged he said to police: "What do you think I will get for this?"

The court heard that the area of Dumbarton Road affected was closed for three hours while a clean-up was carried out.

The front of the bus was also badly damaged. PC Buchanan was treated for a knee injury.

Jailing Kennedy, Sheriff Norman Ritchie QC told him: "I will start with your record, because your record would frankly astonish, perhaps even shock members of the public."

He also pointed out Kennedy had a string of previous convictions and started with assault and robbery and "continued much the same way".

The sheriff also added: "The public has to be protected from you, I regard these as serious charges and a custodial sentence must be imposed."

Kennedy was also banned from holding or obtaining a driving licence for five years.