Yob, 17, admits train attack

A teenager has admitted dropping a chunk of concrete which smashed through the windscreen of a train, knocking the driver unconscious.

The lump of masonry first hit a passenger train – then bounced through the windscreen of a freight train being driven by Joseph Paxton.

Mr Paxton, pictured, suffered 27 fractures to his face and head and suffered nightmares after the attack.

Daniel James Ratcliffe, aged 17, of Broad Street, Kidderminster, admitted two counts of damaging property and being reckless as to whether another life was endangered when he appeared at Hereford Crown Court yesterday .

He was remanded on bail until December 4 for sentencing along with Kevin Martin Clee, aged 18, of Grasmere Close, Kidderminster, who had already admitted his part in the incident on December 17 last year.

The youths had together heaved a 45lb chunk of masonry over the railway footbridge near to the Kidderminster Harriers Football ground in the town, earlier hearings had been told.

Beneath them two trains were approaching: a Central Trains passenger train which had left Kidderminster station heading towards Worcester, and –travelling in the opposite direction – an EWS freight train loaded with 1700 tonnes of steel, heading for Brierley Hill.

Father-of-two Mr Paxton aged 57, of Perry Barr, Birmingham, was driving the freight train. He suffered nightmares for months after recovering from his ordeal and often awoke in bed screaming. He recalled seeing the masonry hurtling towards him but the next six hours were wiped from his memory.

The case against a third man Martin Dean Clee, aged 22, of Radford Avenue, Kidderminster, was discharged after the court heard that he was the subject of a Hospital Order.