Train worker abused by passenger found hiding in toilet
A man shouted and swore at a train worker who confronted him over hiding in a toilet, a court heard.
Peter Hodgetts, 32, from Elliot Court, Lanesfield, verbally abused Nicola Reid, who had been informed by a colleague that Hodgetts had boarded a train in Stoke with his bike and gone straight to the bathroom, Wolverhampton Magistrates' heard.
When the train got to Wolverhampton, he was still in the toilet and after being asked to leave, he swore at the customer service assistant and said he would 'smash' her 'face in'.
Hodgetts was given a 12 month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to using threatening behaviour.
Mr Roger Blezzard, prosecuting, said: "The member of staff had been informed by her manager that a man had got on the train when it was in Stoke and headed straight for the bathroom.
"She was told that he may have been trying to avoid payment.
"When the defendant was confronted he became aggressive and confrontational.
"The victim has since said she felt scared and intimidated by his actions."
Mr Andrew Callea, defending, said his client was in considerable pain at the time due to having four wisdom teeth removed earlier in the day.
He said: "My client accepts his behaviour was bad at the time and it resulted in him being spoken to by police.
"He had come from the dentist where he had four wisdom teeth removed, he was in considerable pain and his mouth was bleeding.
"He has said to me that he isn't the type of person to shout at a woman or make threats, he was not himself that day."
Chairman of the bench, Mr Colin Gardner ordered that Hodgetts pay £85 in costs, £50 compensation and a £15 surcharge.
He said: "We have heard all about your troubles that day and how they caused you to act like an angry young man.
"Public servants should not have to deal with that sort of behaviour."
British Transport Police spokesman Dominic Sutton said: "Those who work on the railway have the right to do so without the fear of violence or verbal abuse.
"We work closely with our partners in the rail industry to ensure the network remains a safe environment.
"We will always do our utmost to ensure those who use threatening behaviour against staff or passengers are brought to account for their actions."
