Man jailed for assaulting officer and abusing rail staff - Blackpool

A man has been jailed for assaulting a police officer and making homophobic and racist comments, following a British Transport Police investigation.

 

Mohammad Hussain, aged 45, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to two counts of racially aggravated public order offences, one count of racially aggravated assault, one count of assaulting an emergency worker and two further public order offences.

He was sentenced to 38 weeks in prison and ordered to pay £157 compensation.

 

The court heard how, on Saturday 28 January, a passenger travelling on a Blackpool train made a report to police of an intoxicated man on board the service making homophobic and racist comments.

 

British Transport Police attended and spoke to Hussain's victims, both rail staff, who told officers how he had made vile and threatening racist and homophobic comments to them before threatening them with violence.

 

Once arrested, Hussain continued to make racist and abusive threats before spitting in the face of the custody officer.

 

Investigating officer PC Pete Barrowcliff said: "Being intoxicated is never an excuse for abusive behaviour, let alone the vitriol and disgusting comments made by Hussain at three people who were simply doing their jobs.

"Now sober, Hussain must face the consequences of his foul, drunken outbursts."

Chris Jackson, regional director at Northern said: “The safety of our customers and staff is always our top priority. We have a zero tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour onboard our trains and in our stations.

“As part of Northern’s on-going fleet upgrade, high-definition CCTV that can be monitored in real time by British Transport Police is being installed on its trains. Many of our staff also wear bodyworn cameras which are used to tackle anti-social or criminal behaviour.”