Man sentenced after railway chaos causes significant disruption and £30,000 of delays - Merseyside

A man who caused widespread disruption and £30,000 in delays on the railway in Merseyside has been sentenced, following a British Transport Police (BTP) investigation.

Tyler Griffith, aged 29 and of Mount Grove Place, Merseyside, appeared at Wirral Magistrates' Court on Monday 21 September, where he pleaded guilty to Obstructing the Railway.

He appeared at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Monday 12 October, where he was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and pay an £800 fine.

The court heard at around 11.45am on Thursday 10 September, Griffith was being pursued on foot by Merseyside Police officers when he ran into Birkenhead Central railway station, jumped down onto the tracks and ran off in the direction of Green Lane station.

BTP officers were informed and put in a request for trains to be stopped while they searched the area.

The stop was later lifted but around 30 minutes after Griffith was spotted at James Street station where railway staff challenged him after he was seen emerging from a disabled passenger lift area. He then ran off down the tunnels on the Wirral line towards Liverpool Central.

Another stop was put in so the area could be searched again, involving colleagues from Merseyside Police including Dog units.

Griffith left the area having climbed onto the roof of a Merseyrail service bound for Sandhills railway station, which arrived 5.10pm. He jumped down onto the platform, crossed the tracks and fled in the direction of Dunes Way.

He was arrested on Saturday 19 September after an officer spotted Griffith outside Birkenhead Library on Borough Road. He was taken into custody and later charged.

BTP Chief Inspector Pete Wilcock said: "Griffiths' actions were extremely irresponsible, reckless and dangerous not only to himself but for the police officers and rail staff who had to put themselves in harm’s way looking for him.

"He caused the worst disruption Merseyrail has seen in several years, including four and a half hours of disruption leading to thousands of passenger journeys affected or cancelled, with a coast of tens of thousands of pounds to the railway network.

"The weight of evidence means he was left with no choice but to plead guilty. This should be a warning to anyone who obstructs the railway that we will act, we will investigate and there will be consequences.

Paul Owen, Liverpool area director for Network Rail, said: "Trespass incidents like these are extremely dangerous for the individuals involved and those responding, as well as being traumatic for our staff and passengers. This particular incident caused unnecessary and frustrating disruption. More than 20,000 passenger journeys were impacted, with a cost to the taxpayer of more than £30,000.

"We will continue to work closely with the British Transport Police and train operators to prevent this type of behaviour and bring offenders to justice."