Passenger in threat to train's conductor

Stephen Perry, aged 49, was travelling from Telford to Wolverhampton with his eight-year-old niece and a friend when he launched a furious tirade at the conductor, Wolverhampton Magistrates' Court heard.

When the conductor explained that his disability pass was not valid and took it off him, Perry, of Rosemary Avenue, Bilston, hurled a torrent of abuse.

Mrs Maggie Meakin, prosecuting, said: "He said, 'If you take that pass I will hit you'. He insinuated he would cause harm unless he was given the pass back."

The train then stopped at a platform and Perry was told to wait for police, which the court heard was when he made his most threatening remark.

Mrs Meakin said: "He said, 'If these people weren't here I would push you in front of the train'."

Mr Numann Haque, defending, said Perry had owned the pass for some time and its validity had never been questioned. He claimed Perry became angry because the conductor snatched the pass from his hands and threw it on the floor.

Mr Haque accepted that his client had made the remark about pushing the conductor in front of the train, but said it had only been after the disagreement caused his disabled niece to cry.

He said: "He travelled to Telford on the day with his friends and his disabled niece. He showed the pass and was told it wasn't valid. There was a disagreement as to whether it was valid.

"He has had the pass for a while and he has used it on a number of occasions. The conductor snatched the pass out of his hands and threw it on the floor. He accepts he did say, 'You are lucky I don't throw you in front of the train'."

Perry pleaded guilty to a single charge of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress on August 7.

Perry must pay a £110 fine, £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge, and £75 to the conductor.