Man admits bus death in swear row

Stan Dixon died in hospital four days after the incident

A man has admitted manslaughter after pushing a fellow passenger off a bus in County Durham.

Stan Dixon, from Horden, died in hospital four days after being injured in the fall on 28 June.

The 60-year-old had earlier asked a group to stop swearing in front of his partner on the 243 Arriva service.

A murder charge against Gary Robson, 23, from Galloway Road in Peterlee, was dropped before he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge.

He will be sentenced on 17 October.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that Mr Dixon had tried to leave the bus before his stop, but Robson had pushed him.

Mr Dixon, who was divorced and had three adult children, suffered head injuries and later died.

The case against Robson was not outlined in court, and a full basis of his plea will be given at a later date.

Richard Bloomfield, defending, said: "It was not the defendant's intention to cause any injury at all."

Speaking outside the court Mr Dixon's partner, Anne Fisher, said that her life had been ruined.

"We were due to get married in September next year. I don't know how I will move on from here," she said.