UK - Fare dodger head-butted conductor

[John Ashworth]

Fare dodger head-butted conductor
BBC
Page last updated at 19:25 GMT, Thursday, 29 January 2009

A fare dodger who repeatedly punched and head-butted a conductor has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Stephen Ball, 37, of Somercotes, Derbyshire, attacked his victim in October 2008, Derby Crown Court heard.

CCTV footage showed him attacking the conductor when he was told to vacate first class, on a train from Langley Mill, Derbyshire to Nottingham.

Ball admitted a charge of actual bodily harm and was also banned from trains and stations in the UK for 10 years.

'Disgraceful' attack

The East Midlands Trains conductor was so traumatised that he has been off work for three months.

The attack was described by British Transport Police as "disgraceful".

The victim suffered a bloody nose and cut lip and the CCTV of the attack was shown to the judge at Derby Crown Court.

Ball, who also tried to stop the train so he could escape, will serve at least 18 months of the three-and-a-half year sentence, the court was told.

The attack stopped when an emergency cord was pulled a mile outside Langley Mill.

Ball escaped on to the railway track after the conductor finally opened the train door.