WIBU to report this woman?

[FairfaxAikman]

I've always been brought up to offer my seat on the bus to people more in need but after today I can see why people are reluctant.

I was on the bus with 10 week old DS in his pram. I was in the pram space with another woman in the wheelchair space.

A woman got on with a Guide dog ( harness was in her hands so it wasn't actively working) and squeezed into the outer seat three rows back, opposite me.
There was a woman in the window seat so the dog lay with legs and tail in the aisle and the inevitable happened and it was stood on.

As I was only a few stops before mine I thought I'd get off early and offer her the larger pram space to keep the dog safe.

I said excuse me but she didn't hear me so I lightly touched her arm - she immediately screamed "don't touch me" at me. I apologised and tried to explain I was trying to offer her the space. She kept screaming at me and accused me of punching her!

I said I'd only touched her to which she replied the cctv would prove I'd punched her.

I ended up in tears and got off the bus early anyway.

The abuse went on for several minutes and was so bad two passengers who got off at the same stop said I should report it and gave me their numbers as witnesses, and the driver made sure I had the vehicle number so they could trace cctv. Apparently she is well known for being rude and racist.

I later passed other passengers in the street and they stopped me to check I was ok.

I'm not exaggerating how aggressive she was and I admit that I was so shocked that I did say at one point "I was trying to be nice but screw you lady" and when she repeated the allegation that I had punched her a said that with her attitude I was surprised everyone kept their fists to themselves - I am not proud of this but I was shocked and angry.

I would normally forget the incident but I'm now worried she will make a false Police report of assault. WIBU to preemptively report her for abuse?

how hard did you tap her? and report for what? police wont be interested if thats what you mex

mean*

Sorry to hear this has happened to you OP .

I would definitely report her, get your story heard first.

It was very lightly - a touch.
And for threatening and abusive behaviour- which is a specific offence here in Scotland (I work alongside the court system so know the most common charges)

Isn't that big and brave of the other passengers to suggest you report her but but not intervene at the time? You can try reporting her if you like.

I would leave it OP. Even if she was charged with a s.38 do you really want to go through all the hassle of court?

I should say a few did tell her she was out of order and there was a lot of muttering of "disgusting" and someone told her to shut up.

@Ginger1982 not really but neither do I want to be charged with assault. Given the number of witnesses and cctv anyway she'd be nuts not to plead guilty.

She sounds mentally ill; I’d leave it.

I also doubt she’d report you.

Just because a person has a disability it doesn't mean they are automatically a nice person. I think you know you didn't do anything wrong, but you feel guilty anyway. Let it go, she won't report.

Well I wouldnt report it. Dont know about scotland but in england the police wouldnt entertain a report of someone shouting at you on the bus.

@InTheLightOfTheMoon www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2010/13/section/38

I would just leave it, she obviously doesn’t like being touched and it must be disconcerting when you have an impairment.

I wouldn’t worry about an assault complaint if there is cctv anyway.

I'd try to forget it and move on, quite honestly.

That still doesnt mean the police would actually do anything! do you realise they are busy dealing with real crimes. A man threatened to headbutt me in the street and the police didnt do a thing. Move on.

She sounds utterly unhinged and yes, mentally ill. She could get worse. For this reason I would definitely report her, even if the police have a chat with her it means she will be on their radar which she may be already.

Sounds an awful experience.

Maybe not a report to the police, but a phone call to the bus company? They might not keep all cctv footage?

I wouldn’t bother. Even if she does report you, the cctv will show you didn’t punch her.
Put it down to experience and forget her.

I honestly don’t think I’d bother, it’s just a waste of everyone’s time especially when there’s more serious things happening out there. Yeah the cctv might prove you didn’t punch her in the unlikely event she reports it but it won’t prove what she was saying to you will it.

Really annoys me that the threshold for this offence is so low because people honestly report every minor thing, when, if its a one off chance encounter (i.e you don’t know them or they’ve come to your home) they should just get over it and move on.

Even if you do report it you have No idea who she is for police to pursue it. Likewise if she reported it. If she did claim she was assaulted then.cctv would show what happened.

i am pretty sure i'd be very upset if this happened to me, it's awful when you're trying to be kind and do the right thing and you get this sort of thing but I agree she's pretty obviously not a well person, and, ime it's best to keep as far away from that sort of person as possible. You've nothing to fear as the other passengers and cctv will clearly show that you did nothing wrong if she did file a malicious report but seems highly doubtful.

I feel sorry for the poor dog that has to live with her.

Meh. Honestly she sounds bonkers. I’d leave it.