Bus driver Ian Chalmers has been bottling up a lot of anger since he was terrorised by a violent passenger on a late night journey earlier this year.
"I loved my job but something happened that night I couldn't quite put my finger on until now," he said yesterday after his attacker, James Elphick was sentenced to two years' jail in Wollongong District Court.
The father of nine said the events of the past few days, including the publication of the horrific CCTV footage of the attack, had cleared his head.
WARNING: This footage of the attack is extremely violent and is suitable for mature audiences only.
"There are more than 200,000 people who live in this city and there are about 10 who make it hard for everyone else.
"This man who attacked me is nothing more than a bully and I resent the fact people like that ruin it for everybody else and give public transport a bad name," he said.
Editorial: Why we published the shocking CCTV footage Mr Chalmers, 51, said he didn't care how many years jail Elphick got as long as he walked out of prison a different person.
"I feel sorry for the guy because you could see the anger inside him on the video but others shouldn't have to suffer for it," he said.
Mr Chalmers said one of the best things about his job were the people he met.
"What makes me mad is that because of senseless attacks like this, public transport drivers are being increasingly separated from the public by protective barriers," he said.
He said he was hoping the assault was a one-off.
"It was a terrible attack ... the only reason I kept driving was for fear of what might happen if I stopped," he said.
"I intended driving him straight to the police station but after the first few blows I was just battling to stay conscious.
"I'd like to thank that motorist who helped me because I hate to think what might have happened once the bus stopped."
Mr Chalmers, who has been driving buses for Premier Illawarra for more than five years, said he was grateful the court had released the video for publication.
"Up until that time I copped a bagging - not from my bosses, but from a lot of other people who thought I should have done this and done that differently. Once they saw what actually happened, their attitudes immediately changed," he said.
Mr Chalmers said he still suffered daily headaches.
Email a friend
Favourites
Del.icio.us
Facebook
Digg
StumbleUpon
MySpace
Reddit
Newsvine
LinkedIn
Kwoff
Twitter