Suspended sentence for Flintshire man who fractured a train drivers face in seven places in ‘shocking’ attack

A 21-year-old man has been given a  suspended sentence for assaulting a train driver in a drunken attack,  following a British Transport Police investigation.

Thomas Watton, of Chester Road, Oakenholt, Flint, was given a 12 month sentence suspended for 12 months and a 7pm – 7am curfew until the end of February 2017 at Liverpool Crown Court last week.

The court heard how on Sunday, 31 July, this year, at Chester station, a drunk Watton assaulted the train driver, fracturing his face in seven places, after he tried to stop him from endangering his life, repeatedly attempting to board moving trains.

Watton had already been removed from the station for his own safety but later returned and in order to prevent him from falling under a moving train, his victim stood in front of him, only to be punched in the face by Watton.

Despite his injuries the driver managed to detain Watton until officers arrived and arrested him.

Detective chief inspector Steve May said;

“This drunken attack on someone who was simply doing his job and attempting to protect his assailant is shocking.

Watton’s actions demonstrate what the consequences of over indulging in alcohol could be, something we see all too often, and should act as a warning to other drinkers as the party season approaches.

Watton, at the age of just 21, now has a criminal record that will remain with him and remind him of the cost of a drunken night out.

Meanwhile his victim has been left injured and traumatised by what happened that night, simply by attempting to prevent Watton from endangering his own life.”