No Goths Allowed

Goth who walks fiancée on a leash is banned by bus driver who told him: 'No dogs allowed'

Last updated at 17:34pm on 22nd January 2008

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A goth, who likes to take his fiancée out for a stroll on a leash, claims that a bus driver told them "no dogs allowed" and banned them from boarding.

Dani Graves, 25, and his girlfriend dress all in black and like to take unusual walks, but the pair have been branded "freaks" and pushed off buses.

He and Tasha Maltby, 19, were told they could not travel on the bus service and believe they have been targeted by the same driver three times.

Gothic Dani claims the driver said: "We don't let freaks and dogs like you on."

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Dani Graves and girlfriend Tasha Maltby claim they were branded 'freaks' by an off-duty driver and pushed off a bus in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire

He said the incident, which was alleged to have happened in early December, took place when he and Tasha went to Dewsbury bus station in West Yorkshire.

An off-duty bus driver, who was also on the service, was still in uniform and allegedly pushed Dani off the bus and refused service to the couple.

He said: "He shoved me off the bus. He called us freaks and he called Tasha a dog. He said, 'we don't let freaks and dogs like you on'.

"He basically grabbed my T-shirt and slammed me backwards. I got a bit angry and called him a fascist pig."

Dani, from Dewsbury, reported him to the manager at the bus depot, who said his complaint would be dealt with but added that despite his complaints, the same driver shook his head at the couple as they approached his bus a few weeks later.

He said that after showing their bus passes and sitting down, the driver refused to let any other passengers on until they got off.

They refused to get off the bus but were eventually forced off after being threatened with police action.

A third incident occurred last week, when Dani was waiting for a bus, this time alone. He said he held out his arm to flag it down, but the same driver smiled and drove past.

Dani relies on the bus service as he does not drive and suffers from a circulation problem that means he cannot walk long distances in cold weather.

He said he always got on with other bus drivers and although he took his fiancée round on a lead, they always took it off before getting on a bus as it could be dangerous.

Dani said he believed this driver's treatment of them was purely down to the way they dress.

He said: "He doesn't like the fact we wear black clothing. We expect the odd comment, but we don't expect it off a bus driver.

"I have been a goth most of my life and it's the first time I've come across anything like this. It's crazy."

Paul Adcock, operations director for Arriva Yorkshire, said: "We take any allegations of discrimination very seriously and we will be investigating all of Mr Graves' claims.

"Mr Graves has already contacted us directly and, as soon as our investigation has concluded, we will inform him of the outcome."