'My agonising wait for HIV results'

Jenny Foulds • Published 26 Jan 2010 16:00

A BUS driver - who was stabbed in the hand with a hypodermic needle - says it will take more than that to stop him from doing the job he loves.

But dad-of-four James McGowan, 40, faces an agonising six-month wait to find out whether he has contracted HIV or Hepatitis C following the unprovoked attack.

Despite the trauma, James arrived bright and early for work the day after the attack and says he has no other choice but to brace himself for the test results.

The Castlehill man, who works for McColl's Coaches, spoke of his harrowing ordeal which took place in Redburn, Bonhill, at around noon on Monday January 11.

He said: "It happened that quickly - I couldn't believe it at first.

"When you get [addicts] coming on the bus you can expect a bit of trouble, but the last thing I expected was for him to stick a needle in me.

"I was driving the bus from Glasgow to Balloch and this guy got on the bus at Redburn and demanded to go to the Vale.

"I said the bus doesn't go to the Vale and he said 'what the hell did you just say?' and stuck a needle right in me.

"I didn't see the whole thing and I didn't see if the syringe had anything in it, but it was definitely a needle."

Alexandria Hospital in Paisley where he was given jabs and had a blood test.

He will now have to have blood tests every two months until July when he will find out the results.

The suspect is a white man, aged between 20 and 25-years-old, around 5ft 10ins tall, unshaven with dark/black hair. He is thought to have been wearing a dark bomber style jacket.

If you have any information call police on 01389 823000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where anonymity can be maintained.

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This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 26 Jan 10

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