Grandad, 73, has his nose broken by teen thugs on bus
A PENSIONER was attacked by two teenage yobs after telling them to stop causing trouble on a bus.
Gerard Rowbottom, 73, was set upon by two boys who had not bought tickets and were refusing to get off the bus.
The attack happened when the bus had stopped outside Dukinfield town hall, on King Street, at around 6pm on Sunday.
The youths, believed to be aged 17, ran up to the top deck where Mr Rowbottom was sitting, followed by the driver.
The driver said the bus couldn’t go anywhere until the pair had got off.
Mr Rowbottom, who was on his way home, told the boys to do as they were told.
When the grandfather-of-eight tried to intervene in an altercation between the boys and the driver, he was grabbed and punched in the face.
“They came upstairs and I said, ‘look lads, can you please get off the bus so we everyone can get home,” said Mr Rowbottom.
“They went downstairs and like a fool I followed them. We got to the doors and one of the lads went to strike the driver.
“It all happened really quickly. There were some girls at the bus stop and their language was pretty choice.
“All of sudden someone grabbed me and spun me around, and then one of them hit me.
“I knew they had broken my nose because I heard it crack. “I’m okay now, but it was scary.” The two attackers ran away from the scene, but two young girls helped Mr
Rowbottom, who was taken home by police. The former builder was left with two black eyes and a broken nose.
A photo of Mr Rowbottom’s injuries posted on Facebook by his son, Carl, has been shared more than 8,500 times since Sunday evening.
Police said an investigation into the attack has been launched. Officers are urging anyone with information to come forward. It is understood the attackers were identified by two girls at the scene who informed police of the boys’ names.
Mr Rowbottom added: “The driver was worried he might lose his job because he left his cab.
“I just hope there’s some justice in the world and something is done about those two lads. The police know who they are.”
Anyone with information can call police on 101, quoting reference number 1608 of March 5.
I knew they had broken my nose because I heard it crack Gerald Rowbottom