A 24-year-old man who smiled as he savagely beat up a train conductor has been jailed for three and a half years.
Ansar Hussain flew into a violent rage when Euan Hilton confiscated his out-of-date Metro travel pass, Bradford Crown Court heard.
Hussain, of Barlow Road, Keighley, humiliated and racially abused Mr Hilton on the Skipton to Bradford Forster Square train.
At Saltaire station, he seized the conductor’s master key, shut the train doors and jumped on to the platform with him. The passengers were locked on the train with Mr Hilton at Hussain’s mercy.
Mr Hilton said he curled in a ball as Hussain rained kicks and punches on his head and upper body.
As he crawled towards the back doors of the train, Hussain set on him again, punching and grabbing him.
He rifled through Mr Hilton’s uniform pockets before fleeing the platform.
Mr Hilton suffered grazed knees and elbows and was shocked and very shaken.
Hussain pleaded guilty to causing Mr Hilton actual bodily harm on April 14.
Jailing him Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC called Hussain “a particularly unpleasant, arrogant and malicious young man”.
He branded the attack “gratuitous and vicious”.The judge praised the conductor’s “exemplary” behaviour. He was savagely beaten while performing his duties.
The judge said Hussian smiled as he ruthlessly beat up the conductor “for malice and amusement”.
Mr Hilton told the court that, although shocked and hurt, his duty to his passengers meant the train was only delayed six to eight minutes.
A 19-year-old woman, who gave her evidence behind a screen to protect her identity, said the conductor screamed for help as he was repeatedly kicked on the ground.
After the case Steve Butcher, area director for Northern Rail, said: “We welcome this conviction and sentence, which reflects the severity of the attack.”
Inspector Glen Alderson, of British Transport Police, said: “This was an horrific attack on a member of rail staff just doing his job and serving the public.”
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