A MAN who attacked a bus driver in front of 75 schoolchildren has been jailed.

James Higgins, 25, rained a series of "rapid and forceful" blows on the Nippy Bus driver following an incident in Sherborne on the morning of Thursday, October 12 2017.

The double-decker bus was travelling along the A30 with scores of children on board when it approached a set of roadworks, which had reduced the speed limit to 40 miles per hour and the dual carriageway to one lane.

As the bus driver moved his vehicle into the single lane, he noticed a black BMW 1 Series close behind. The car then passed the bus on the nearside before pulling in front of the larger vehicle and stopping behind queueing traffic.

Higgins got out of the BMW and swore at the bus driver. The bus doors opened and Higgins stepped onto the vehicle, approached the driver and punched him around a dozen times while the victim was trapped in the cab.

Suddenly, Higgins stopped hitting the driver and returned to his car before driving to a nearby petrol station.

Children on board the Nippy Bus checked on the driver and took a photo of the BMW before it was driven away.

Later that morning, Higgins called Dorset Police and said he wanted to hand himself in.

He told officers he "saw red".

The bus driver, a man aged in his 60s and from Yeovil, sustained injuries to his face and arm and was taken to hospital for treatment.

Last week, Higgins. of Howard Road in Yeovil, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court to 16 months in prison.

The defendant had admitted assault at a previous hearing.

Detective Constable Declan Cummings, of Weymouth CID, said: “James Higgins lost control of his temper and subjected his victim to an unprovoked and vicious assault in front of a bus full of schoolchildren.

“None of the children were physically injured in the incident but I am sure it would have had a lasting impact on some of them.

“I hope the sentence handed out by the court will act as reminder that violent crime will not be tolerated in our communities.”