Teenager who killed bus driver Keith Rollinson after being refused on board detained
18 November 2024, 09:18 | Updated: 18 November 2024, 13:14
A teenage boy who admitted to killing a bus driver in an attack that saw him headbutting and "raining punches" on to his victim has been detained for four years and four months.
Keith Rollinson, 58, died in hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest following the assault at a bus station in Elgin in February.
The 16-year-old, who was 15 at the time of the incident and cannot be named for legal reasons, was initially charged with murder but last month pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of culpable homicide.
The teenager was sentenced to detention by Lady Hood at the High Court in Inverness on Monday.
During the plea hearing in October, the High Court in Edinburgh heard how the boy had spent the evening drinking with other youths in Elgin town centre on 2 February and had planned to catch the last bus home.
Prosecutors said Mr Rollinson refused to allow him to board the bus due to his "noticeably intoxicated" condition.
The teenager argued with the driver, to which Mr Rollinson switched the engine off and notified passengers he would not be leaving until the boy got off the vehicle.
While on the concourse, the teenager was said to have pointed his phone in Mr Rollinson's face, apparently filming him.
Advocate depute John Keenan KC told the court: "The deceased grabbed the phone, which then led to a physical struggle during which the accused headbutted the deceased.
"The struggle continued and the deceased threw the phone to the ground before stamping on it several times.
"At this, the accused completely lost control, raining punches on the deceased's head and body. The deceased did not retaliate but tried to get away from the accused."
Although initially appearing to be unharmed, Mr Rollinson collapsed after bending down to pick up his cap from the ground.
He was taken to Dr Gray's Hospital but did not regain consciousness and was pronounced dead during the early hours of 3 February.
A post-mortem examination found that Mr Rollinson had a pre-existing heart condition and was "at risk of a sudden fatal cardiac event at any time".
It was noted that the physical altercation most likely would have led to increased blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, followed by a cardiac arrest.
Mr Keenan added: "Given the close temporal relationship between the assault and collapse, the events appear linked and, had it not been for the assault, he may not have died when he did."
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The court also heard that the teenager had a number of previous offences, including being subject to a supervision order for another assault on a bus driver that ended just weeks before the deadly one.
Passing sentence, judge Lady Hood said statements from Mr Rollinson's family described him as "a true gentleman with a heart of gold and a wonderful husband and father".
She said the family "have been shattered by their loss", and that due to the circumstances of his death they had been unable to be with him when he died.
The youth's lawyer, Shelagh McCall KC, said her client understood the seriousness of his actions, and that he had shown "sincere remorse" for it.
Stagecoach North Scotland said the firm was "shocked and saddened" by the incident, while union Unite demanded "stronger legal protection" for bus drivers.
Last week, Unite unveiled the results of a mass survey of Scottish bus drivers, which reported that 84% had experienced increased abuse at work over the last year.
Sharon Graham, the union's general secretary, said: "Urgent measures must be taken to address the staggering level of abuse being suffered by bus drivers."
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