SINGAPORE - A cleaner queueing for a bus at Toa Payoh bus interchange got angry when a clerk in front of him placed a plastic bag between them, a court heard.

Cyril Dass, 60, kicked the bag away when it touched his leg.

When the clerk, Ms Goh Ai Boon, 55, told him not to stand so close to her, he threatened to punch her.

She then told him she would call the police, took a few steps back, and started dialling for the police.

Dass then punched her nose, breaking it.

On Tuesday (June 7), he was jailed for six months after he pleaded guilty to one charge of causing grievous hurt.

He admitted to two other charges of causing hurt which were considered in sentencing.

A district court heard that Dass and Ms Goh were waiting for bus service 157 at the bus interchange at about 6.50am on Aug 24 last year.

He punched her at about 7am, leaving her with a badly bleeding nose, and then boarded the bus when it came.

The assault was captured on closed-circuit television cameras.

Ms Goh was taken to hospital, and referred to an ear, nose and throat specialist. She was given three days of medical leave.

Dass has been diagnosed with anti-social personality disorder and alcohol dependency, but he was found not to be of unsound mind at the time of the offence.

On Sept 19 last year, at about 12.40am, he also swung his arm to hit a female doctor's face at Tan Tock Seng Hospital's Accident and Emergency Department.

And on Jan 7 this year, he punched a passer-by's cheek and kicked her abdomen along a road in Toa Payoh at about 1.30pm.

For causing grievous hurt, Dass could have been jailed for 10 years and fined.

The maximum penalty for causing hurt is two years' jail and a $5,000 fine.