Abusive passenger jailed for 18 weeks

An abusive passenger has been jailed for 18 weeks after shouting and swearing at a member of staff.

The train passenger, Mark Anthony Williams, was sitting in first class without a valid ticket. The train manager asked him to move or buy a first class ticket. He refused and instead verbally abused the train manager before eventually moving to standard class.

When the train manager had finished checking tickets he saw that Williams was smoking and drinking in his seat. The train manager attempted to enforce the ‘no smoking’ policy and told Williams to stop. Williams let out a tirade of abuse.

The British Transport Police were contacted and boarded the train at Wolverhampton where they arrested him.

The investigation revealed that Williams had just been released from Liverpool Prison that day where he had been serving time for a number of offences including assault, wounding and criminal damage. He had also breached an asbo issued in 2008 and in place until 2011.

He was jailed for 18 weeks.

Sergeant Chris Casey, officer in charge at BTP Wolverhampton, said: “This incident shows clearly that British Transport Police will not tolerate anti-social behaviour.”