A TRAFFIC official had to hit the emergency button when a bus driver drove off after being told checks had to be made on his licence, a hearing was told.

Michael Furnival, of Primrose Close, Ross was at Newent Community School when traffic examiner Daniel Joyner from the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) carried out the check.

The agency’s records indicated that the 66-year-old’s passenger carrying vehicle (PCV) driving entitlement had expired a few weeks earlier, a hearing before West Midlands Traffic Commissioner Nick Den­ton was told.

When Mr Joyner told him checks had to made, Mr Furnival said he was driving off the school premises to have a cigarette.

Despite being told he should wait until the checks had been made, Mr Furnival drove off with the official on board.

Mr Joyner had to press the emergency exit button to get off the 33-seater bus.

After returning to the school, vehicle examiner Christopher Ross approached the bus but Mr Furnival shouted at him, forcing Mr Ross to step backwards as he drove off at speed.

Senior traffic examiner Nicola Darby called the police but was told they were unable to attend because of other priorities.

A witness statement from DSA public liaison officer Emily Spencer said she had spoken to Mr Furnival twice over the phone and he had been abusive and had sworn.

Mr Furnival told the hearing he had given Mr Joyner an opportunity to get off the bus but was asked by Mr Denton why he could not wait 15 minutes.

He said he needed a cigarette and could not walk off the school premises because of mobility problems – he attended the hearing on a mobility scooter.

The commissioner said that throughout the hearing Mr Furnival showed the same aggressive attitude described by the officials and that the driver stormed out of the room, saying he had been accused of being a liar.

Mr George Young, of Mr Furnival’s employers George Young Coaches, “deplored” the conduct of his driver both at the school and at the Birmingham hearing.

Disqualifying Mr Furnival from driving buses and light goods vehicles (LGV) for 12 months, Mr Denton said: “I find that Mr Furnival’s conduct has been bullying, threatening and wholly intemperate.

“I find that his conduct has fallen far short of that expected of a professional LGV and PCV driver.”