"This is my country, go back to Poland" - Racist is jailed for threats to Polish bus driver - Leeds Court

Leeds Crown Court heard Levi Ibbotson left the victim shocked and in fear of being attacked during the incident.

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The incident happened on board the Bradford to Wakefield Arriva bus on January 11 this year.

Ibbotson, 39, boarded the bus at 3pm in Morley town centre and appeared “nervous and agitated”.

The court heard Ibbotson became aggressive towards the driver without warning.

He clenched his fists and went up to the driver’s window as he shouted abuse.

Ibbotson said to the woman: “This is my country. Get back to Poland.”

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The court heard the driver asked Ibbotson to get off the bus as she feared for her safety and the safety of passengers.

One of the driver’s colleagues who saw the incident approached Ibbotson and asked him to calm down but he continued to be abusive.

Ibbotson got off the bus and was arrested after a police community support officer followed him. The incident on board the bus lasted over two minutes and was captured on CCTV.

He was interviewed about the incident and told police: “We are all racist in our own way.”

Ibbotson pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment.

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At the time of the incident he was the subject of a suspended prison sentence for burglary.

He has previous convictions for robbery and public order offences.

The court heard Ibbotson had been receiving help for mental health problems.

Ibbotson struggled with dock officers after he was sentenced.

He was placed in handcuffs before being led away to the cells.