THE mother of a disabled teenager has accused a bus driver of a hate crime after he allegedly swore at the youngster and called him a “retard”.

William Wragg, 18, was allegedly verbally abused by a driver on a service from Colchester bus station heading towards Lexden Springs special school in Halstead Road, Lexden.

William, who is severely disabled, was accompanied by a staff member on his way back from doing work experience at the Art Cafe in Trinity Street when one of two drivers at the front of the bus allegedly made the comment.

The school staff member, who the Gazette has agreed not to identify, said: “We got on and the bus driver jolted the bus before we had sat down.

“William was anxious and was repeating ‘Wait til the bus stops’.

“He is repetitive and hasn’t got very good speech because of his condition.

“He was loud but that’s fine, he’s not hurting anybody.

“I asked the driver if there was any reason he was jolting the bus and then held William’s hand to find a seat.

“Just loud enough, one of the drivers then used a swear word followed by ‘retards’.”

She added: “I was so angry. One said it to the other like a complaint and I don’t think they meant for me to hear.

“I clocked another lady shaking her head who seemed to acknowledge it.”

The incident was reported to the police and to First Buses.

The staff member said: “It was incredibly derogative and disgusting.

“There are children with disabilities on that bus and they don’t wait for them to sit down.

“If you have that view of disabled people, you shouldn’t be working in a public service job.”

William’s mum, Linda, of St Anne’s Road, Colchester, said: “It’s a hate crime.

“Things like this set him back months.

“It took a year to get William to go on a bus, to build up his confidence to go with a carer.

“He loved getting the bus with his pass and the work means he’s part of the community.

“I am not prepared for him to go on the bus again until this is sorted out.”

The 52-year-old added: “It’s hard enough in life for William as it is without something like this to knock him back.”

A spokesman for First Essex said: "We expect our drivers to maintain high levels of professionalism at all times and we were, therefore, concerned and disappointed when we heard of this incident.

"We have already launched an investigation to establish all the facts and will be in touch with Ms Wragg to explain the outcome as soon as possible."

A spokesman for Essex Police confirmed they received a complaint an 18-year-old man with learning disabilities was verbally abused while travelling on a bus. Inquiries are ongoing.