Thug who was having 'bad day' beat up bus passengers

Tyrique Watson's victims were left injured and shocked by the unprovoked assaults in Stourbridge - all on the number nine bus, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

One passenger needed surgery for a broken nose. A teenager who went to another victim's aid ended up being struck several times herself and having clumps of her hair pulled out.

The court heard 19-year-old Watson appeared 'emotionless' during the attacks on three women and a man which were caught on CCTV.

Judge Nicholas Webb described the attacks as 'vicious outbreaks of violence' against vulnerable people who were clearly targeted.

Watson's first victim was a passenger sitting on a bus in Birmingham Street, Stourbridge, on December 19 last year, which left him with several facial injuries.

Then on March 9, he repeatedly punched a young woman in the face 'for reasons unknown', continuing the attack as she tried to break free from him.

A 17-year-old fellow passenger tried to intervene but was instead set upon herself by Watson who hit her several times and pulled out her hair.

He got off and boarded another bus where he punched another woman who lost consciousness during the assault and later underwent surgery for a badly broken nose.

The court heard all four victims had been left too nervous to use public transport.

Ms Rachel Pennington, defending, said Watson could not explain his actions but was full of remorse. "He had been having a bad day, he lost his temper and he knows there was no need to hit anyone," she said.

"What he did was out of character. It was behaviour that came out of the blue over his failure to control his emotions."

Watson, of Stepping Stones, Stourbridge, admitted one charge of wounding and three of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Judge Webb said the defendant had taken each of his victims by surprise while other passengers who had witnessed the attacks had been left in a state of shock. He called it an 'unusual and worrying case.'

There was no evidence that Watson, who had not been in trouble before, had any mental health issues and added the attacks had shown a degree of premeditation as the CCTV footage showed Watson looking for someone to pick on.

Sentencing him to four years in a Young Offenders Institution, Judge Webb told Watson his attitude was concerning and it was clear he was 'dangerous' and presented a serious risk of future harm to the public.

He also extended the period of licence on his release from custody by a year.