Man arrested after assault in bus queue

A man has been arrested after an assault in a bus queue in Rochdale.

Shortly before 3.00pm on Friday 16 August 2013, the victim, a 79-year-old man, was queuing for the 456 bus with his wife and 7-year-old grandson when there was a dispute with another man.

As the queue moved forward, a man put his arm out to prevent the victim’s wife from stepping forward. As he did this the victim took a step between the offender and his wife. The man then punched the victim in the face before getting on the bus.

The victim, his wife and grandson got onto the bus where there was a further verbal altercation before the offender got off the bus at Lowhill.

A 62-year-old man from Rochdale has been arrested on suspicion of assault and is currently in police custody for questioning.

PC Paul Daffern at Rochdale police station said: “This was an unprovoked attack on a vulnerable elderly man in front of his family. He suffered a black eye and is extremely shaken by what happened.

“There were a lot of people in the queue for the bus that day who would have seen what happened. I would urge those people to come forward and talk to police.”

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 9961 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.