A “STRESSED” Worcester bus driver shouted abuse from his window before hitting a car blocking his way.

Mark Hilsden lost his temper while driving his First Bus through Worces-ter during a Friday even-ing rush-hour.

Worcester Magistrates Court was told Hilsden, who has 30 years’ driving experience, was carrying passengers on the Red Hill to CrownGate bus station service when the incident happened.

The 48-year-old pulled his 15-tonne single decker bus into St Nicholas Street and attempted to drop a passenger off at a bus stop outside Bolero’s coffee shop. A driver had parked his Ford Fiesta at the stop, blocking the bus’s route, so Hilsden pulled “obliquely” across the front of the car to reach the stop.

The Fiesta driver then reversed out and pulled in front of the bus, behind an Audi car queueing at the traffic lights.

“At this point the Fiesta was in the marked yellow hatchings box preventing Mr Hilsden from reaching Angel Street,” said Matt Dodson, prosecuting.

Hilsden pulled alongside the Fiesta and “shouted abuse” at its driver through his open window, but then the Audi driver remonstrated with Hildsen for his foul language.

Hilsden responded with a choice reply, according to Mr Dodson, before squeezing his bus past the Fiesta, but not before the back of his vehicle clipped the car, shunting it into the back of the Audi, damaging all three vehicles.

“The driver had deliberately driven towards the Fiesta,” said Mr Dodson.

Hilsden, of School Lane, Upton-upon-Severn, continued to the CrownGate bus station, effectively leaving the scene but then reported the accident to his supervisor and the police.

He admitted using threatening or abusive words, driving without due care and attention, and failing to stop at an accident scene.

Michael Carless, in mitigation, said: “This was not a deliberate piece of driving.

“The fact is he was provoked at 6.30pm on a Friday night.”

Hilsden, who has driven for First since 2004, had a spotless record until the shunt on February 20 this year.

Mr Carless said his shift had started with a “stressful situation caused by the bus ticket machine”.

“He was showing that stress and regrets his actions,” he said.

Hilsden was fined £100 for his foul language, another £150 for driving without due care and attention and given five penalty points on his licence.

For failing to stop he was fined £50 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

After the hearing, spokes-man for First Steve Zanker said the firm would be investigating. “Our investigation will find out what action, if any, we take ag-ainst the driver,” he said.