A 28-year-old man who attacked a pregnant mum on a bus in Barking has avoided a prison sentence.

Jermaine Stewart, of Millard Terrace, Dagenham, pled guilty to one count of common assault, three counts of assault on police, one count of criminal damage and one count of resisting arrest at Barkingside Magistrates Court yesterday.

He was given a community order and ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work – reduced from 200 hours due to his early plea – within the next 12 months, and to pay costs totalling £235.

Officers were called to Ripple Road at about 4pm on Monday, April 27, when a 30-year-old woman had been pushed off a route 173 bus by a man claiming there was no room for her and the pushchair carrying her nine-month-old baby.

At the bus stop, the man allegedly punched her repeatedly in the face, chest and shoulders.

When the mother tried calling 999 he took her phone and threw it to the floor, smashing it.