Reading Buses’ staff assaulted – £1,000 reward for information leading to a prosecution

In a horrifying attack in Central Reading, at 00:15 Saturday morning on 19th April, two of  Reading Buses’ Night controllers were assaulted in Minster Street, leaving both men with cuts and bruises and one with a fractured eye socket. Reading Buses is calling for witnesses to the attack and are offering a £1,000 reward for any information that leads to a prosecution.

The incident happened in Minster Street as Roy and Joe were attending to a bus bound for Tilehurst. Night Manager Roy Blackwell bent to retrieve a piece of card that had been thrown on the floor and was struck in the face by a fist. Seeing this, his colleague Joe Moure came to his aid and was himself struck by the second youth. A third youth then appeared and they all ran off in the direction of the Oracle (Yield Hall Lane end).

The bus driver, seeing this, gave chase, and Roy followed to give his support, however, they soon lost them. Roy didn't realise he had been injured or had lost his glasses until this point. Fortunately his glasses were found undamaged.

On returning to Joe, they realised that Joe had quite a bad wound, which was bleeding. A security guard from The Oracle had seen this incident on their CCTV screens and came across with a first aid kit and was kindly helping Joe. He had also called for Police and Ambulance. Joe was taken to Royal Berkshire Hospital where he was later discharged. He has a fractured eye socket and will be off work for many weeks. Roy is also unable to work as a result of the injuries he sustained.

James Freeman, Chief Executive Officer of Reading Transport Ltd, comments: “This assault seems quite motiveless. It comes in the wake of another assault, though not at night, where a bus driver was attacked on a bus at Reading Station. We simply do not tolerate this sort of gratuitous violence to our staff
 
“Joe and Roy were simply doing their jobs and were not expecting to be attacked. X-rays have shown Joe has a fracture to the eye socket. He is in quite some pain with blurred vision. He will obviously be off work for some time. We wish him all the best in his recovery.
 
“CCTV images have been provided to Police and investigations continue, but we are looking for any information to help catch the attackers. We simply cannot stand by and tolerate this mindless violence and that is why we are offering a £1000 reward for any information that leads to a prosecution in this matter.”

Anybody with information on this assault should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or Reading Buses on 0118 959 4000.