Brisbane bus driver Ross Belsham has been sacked after 5-year-old school girl Alyssa New fell asleep at the back of his coach last month, despite reports that a series of errors by school staff and Alyssa’s own parents also contributed to the incident.

Bus company Logan Coaches terminated Belsham’s contract on Tuesday, saying he failed to follow company procedure and that his actions caused distress to Alyssa and her family.

Belsham told Nine News he doesn’t think he’s been given a “fair run” and that he’s taken the fall for everyone involved in the incident. “I’ve lost my job and I don’t think I’ve had a fair run. That’s the end of my life, unless somebody out there wants to give me a job,” he told Nine News. He’ll now be forced to rely on the pension to take care of himself and his wife, who has health issues.

The incident sparked widespread debate at the time with contradicting stories from school stuff and Alyssa’s parents and questions over whether, at 5 years old, Alyssa was too young to be riding the bus alone. It’s believed Alyssa snuck onto the buss while Belsham was in the carpark collecting unaccompanied children.