Story By: John Feng, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report

WARNING: EXPLICIT CONTENT

Video Credit: AsiaWire

This is the moment a teenage thug brutally beats a bus driver with a mop handle because he could not give him change.

The shocking attack happened on the number 595 bus in Hangzhou, capital of East China’s Zhejiang Province, on 16th March.

The bus CCTV footage shows the driver surnamed Xia, 42, conversing with the boy, aged 17, as he stands to his right, his face just out of camera shot.

Pictures Credit: AsiaWire

The teenager, surnamed Zhang, can be seen holding one end of the bus’s mop, which he had allegedly snapped in half in order to use as a weapon.

The boy then begins repeatedly striking the bus driver over the head until the mop handle breaks – and then he picks up a broomstick to continue the beating.

According to Xia, the attack happened shortly after the teenager boarded the bus and paid for his 6 RMB (67 p) fare using a 20 RMB (2.24 GBP) banknote.

Speaking from his hospital bed, Xia recalled: “He asked me for change but I told him I didn’t have any to give him.

“I advised him to collect money from other passengers instead, but he became really agitated.”

Reports said the teenager was detained on assault charges while Xia was treated for deep bashes on his head.

Authorities are investigating the case but it is unclear whether the minor – who is about four months away from his 18th birthday – will receive any punishment for the offence.

Zhou Tingjiao, a spokeswoman for the bus company that employs Xia, said: “Our rules don’t allow drivers to take part in any form in the money collection process.

“We also train our drivers not to respond to any verbal or physical intimidation and attacks, so he could only protect his head.”