A MAN who spat at a Metro train driver has appeared in court.

Dean Baird (32), of Eilanville, Hexham, was arrested on October 29 after the incident at South Gosforth Metro station.

North Tyneside Magistrates heard on Friday that Baird spat and threw hand sanitiser at a Metro driver, who had picked up a bottle he had thrown on the floor. Baird then assaulted two other employees. He pleaded guilty to three counts of assault at an earlier hearing.

District judge Paul Currer sentenced Baird to a 12-month community order, including a ‘thinking skills’ course, 100 hours of unpaid work and compensation of £100 to each victim.