Bus bans in west's war zone
A BUS driver gave a chilling account of being attacked by a thug in a suburban war zone resutling in cancelled services.
A shaken Shane Fox was almost hit by a bottle hurled at him by the teenager in Willmot, in Sydney's west, at 6.30am on January 10th, while four other drivers have been robbed at knife or syringe point in the suburb in the last two months.
The Westbus driver said in some cases the teenage armed robbers walked out of their homes, robbed a bus and then casually "walked straight back in the front door".
New security cameras on the front of the bus helped lead police officers, who arrived at the scene within three minutes, to the alleged attacker yesterday.
They arrested a 15-year-old who faced Parramatta Children's Court yesterday charged with affray and malicious damage.
Magistrate Garry Still refused the boy bail, arguing his alleged actions presented a major danger to the public.
"It is just too dangerous for me to let him out," Mr Still said.
In the wake of the violence all bus services to Willmot were suspended indefinitely on January 10th, Transport Workers Union representative Wayne Forno said.
It is the second time in six months that public bus services in the area have been suspended because of attacks.
The teenager yesterday faced court without a parent present.
The court heard he posed a serious danger to the public.
"This is extremely serious and it puts lives at risk," prosecutor Mark Watson said.
"Even though alcohol is a factor, it smacks of intentional behaviour."
The boy pleaded not guilty to the charges and his solicitor told the court her client had suffered from a brain injury and that he was involved with the Aboriginal Disability Service.
Mr Fox watched in horror as a 15-year-old stood in the middle of Discovery Ave, Willmot, at 6.30am yesterday, forcing him to stop.
The youth allegedly hurled a bottle that shattered the window, destroying an electronic destination machine and narrowly missing Mr Fox.
"What scared me is I have a wife and family and a mortgage, my wife rings me twice a day to make sure I am OK," Mr Fox said. "It is a war zone. As I drove into Discovery Ave, I saw children running amok with debris all over the road.
"As I approached Willmot shops I noticed a child standing in the middle of the road with an object in his hand.
"I pulled up, he hurled the bottle. I am lucky he is not a very good shot and it smashed the destination board."
As he went to drive off, he said the teenager again stood in front of his bus before kicking the side of the vehicle and casually walking off.
His wife, who was at home with their children, rang him in tears after the brazen attack.
The teenager is due to appear in Parramatta Children's Court again on January 21.
Daily Telegraph
11 January 2008
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PROTECTING AUSSIE JOBS 
