Man jailed for train conductor attack has appeal rejected
Anthony Lee
A MAN who was jailed for attacking a train conductor has had his appeal quashed and prison sentence extended.
Anthony Lee, 19, of The Ridge, St Leonards, was originally sentenced to eight weeks in prison after being found guilty of the attack on a 38-year-old conductor from Hove.
Lee appealed both the conviction and sentence but following an appeal hearing at Lewes Crown Court this week his appeal was dismissed and his sentence extended to 10 weeks by the reviewing judge.
The incident took place on March 17, 2010, when around 12.50pm a group of men, including Lee, boarded the Southern service at Bexhill and purchased tickets from the conductor.
The member of staff, accidentally gave Lee too much change and politely asked that he return it.
Lee refused and began arguing with the conductor, who warned him he would have to leave the train if he continued to verbally abuse him.
When the train arrived at Pevensey and Westham station, Lee followed the conductor into another carriage before putting him in a tight head-lock, leaving the victim gasping for breath.
Concerned passengers wrenched Lee away and he fled the train at Hampden Park, the next station.
Following a number of police appeals for information in the media, including the release of a CCTV image, several members of the public recognised and named Lee, who was then arrested.
PC Paul Gardner, the investigating officer, said: “Everyone has the right to go to work without fear of violence like this and we welcome the sentence handed down to Lee.
“I’d also like to pass my thanks to the members of the public who came forward and provided us with the information we needed to identify Lee and bring him to justice.”
Martin Grier, Southern’s Head of Security, said: “We are pleased with this outcome for a number of reasons. It sends out a message to those who think they can get away with this kind of violent and unprovoked attack.
“It also shows that justice has been well served to this criminal, who rightly deserved to have his appeal turned down and his sentence extended.”
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Hastings
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South west
