A man who assaulted and racially abused a bus driver before spitting at a police officer has been sentenced.

Spencer James, 42, of no fixed address, was jailed at Willesden Crown Court on May 4 following the incidents that happened days after the UK was placed on lockdown in March.

The court heard police were called to a bus in Wealdstone High Street, Harrow, at 2.30pm on March 31 to reports of a man acting aggressively, Met Police said.

It was reported by the bus driver that James had boarded the bus and then sat down without paying for his journey.

When the bus driver told him to pay or get off the bus, James started to act "extremely" aggressively, according to Met Police.

The police force said he shouted racist insults at the driver, who then radioed through to the control room to request police assistance.

James had continued to act aggressively and punched the screen of the driver's cab four times, cutting his hand and smearing blood on it.

He then spat at the screen and in the tray of the driver's cab, Met Police said.

Officers arrested James when they arrived at the scene.

He had continued to shout racist abuse at the bus driver and then spat at a police officer, Met Police said.

Further officers arrived at the scene and a spit hood was placed on James.

He was taken into custody and was charged on April 3.

James pleaded guilty to assault on an emergency worker, racially aggravated assault and using threatening words or behaviour.

He was sentenced to 42 weeks' behind bars.

Detective Sergeant Ian Beattie, of the Met's Road and Transport Policing Command, said: "This was a particularly nasty incident that involved James spitting at a bus driver and a police constable who were carrying out their public duties.

"In the current climate, where everyone is making efforts to stay safe and protect themselves and others, this behaviour is particularly thoughtless and deplorable.

"Any reports of this nature will be dealt with robustly; this sort of behaviour will simply not be tolerated.”

Siwan Hayward, Director of Compliance, Policing and On-street Services at TfL, said: “We are absolutely disgusted by this vicious, threatening assault that left a valued colleague feeling shaken. That anyone could consider spitting at and racially abusing frontline workers during this national health emergency is deeply shocking.

“We welcome James’s sentencing and hope it sends a strong message that abuse won’t be tolerated on our network. Our bus drivers are nothing short of heroic, supporting the efforts to tackle coronavirus by providing transport for critical workers in the NHS, who are saving lives. Safety is our absolute priority and we will continue doing all that we can to protect our staff.”