A MAN spat in a bus driver's face after he was caught using a forged day saver ticket.

The "disgusting" incident took place when Tanveer Rashid was ordered off the bus one afternoon last month.

Afterwards he ran away but was chased by driver Adam Percy and handed over to the police, Manchester magistrates heard.

Rashid, 24, of Glenbrook Road, Blackley, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Percy and using a false ticket he knew to be forged.

He was given a 12-month conditional discharge and 80 hours unpaid work, to run consecutively with 180 hours imposed last month for theft.

Prosecutor Kerry Bell said the spittle had hit the victim on the lips and he told police: "I was angry somebody could do such a disgusting thing."

Adrian Palmer, defending, said Rashid had behaved recklessly in that he meant to spit on the driver's screen.

Rashid alleged that the driver had assaulted him. "Some might think he deserved it," said Mr Palmer.

Mrs Bell said Rashid's claim of assault was "always denied" by the driver.