Rail trespasser breached order

A reckless Coatbridge lout who almost caused a serious railway accident has admitted breaching his subsequent court order punishment.

Stephen Thomson foolishly climbed over a fence to access a stretch of railway in Mollinsburn, Cumbernauld, in June 2015, which caused a ScotRail train driver to use his emergency brake to avoid a collision with the thoughtless 20-year-old.

The train, which was travelling from Glasgow Queen Street to Falkirk at around 3pm, was passing a level crossing near Greenfoot Road when the driver noticed Thomson and two other people on the line, just 150 yards away.

He performed an abrupt emergency stop which subsequently resulted in delays on the line – costing ScotRail almost £10,000.

Thomson, of Rose Gardens, admitted the offence and was sentenced to two years’supervision and tagged for six months during an appearance at Airdrie Sheriff Court in February.

Thomson’s then-defence lawyer Nicky Matteo said there was a suggestion Thomson had been chased and the only way out was to climb over the fence leading to the railway line.

But that excuse failed to impress Sheriff Morag Shankland, who said it“beggars belief”Thomson had made a decision which endangered not only his own life, but the lives of those on the train.

When Sheriff Shankland informed Thomson she was seriously considering handing down a prison sentence, her comment was met with a laugh from Thomson which prompted her to ask:“Do you think this is funny?”and Thomson’s attitude in the dock promptly changed as he sat with his head in his hands.

Thomson was then told of his sentence – but failed to adhere to its stipulations in the proceeding months.

He returned to the dock last week accused of breaching the order – an offence he owned up to in court.

A visibly unimpressed Sheriff Shankland then chose to defer sentencing on Thomson for the breach until August 2 to allow for“the completion of criminal justice social work reports”.

The order Thomson admitted to breaching included punishment for his theft of“confectionary and clothing”from Asda on Coatbridge Main Street on November 30, 2015.