Man fined for standing too close to edge of platform

A MAN was fined for standing too close to the edge of a railway platform, forcing a train to stop.

Damian Luczynski ignored warnings from a member of staff to step back as a train approached Erdington Railway Station. The driver had to be alerted and was forced to halt the train early.

The 38-year-old defendant, from Cecil Road, Erdington, admitted a charge of trespassing in proximity of a railway at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Monday, October 5.

He was fined £60, although the crown court will now be notified given that he committed the offence less than two months after being handed a suspended sentence for previous crimes.

The incident happened on August 7. Harbinder Gahir, prosecuting, said: “A member of staff was alerted to a male standing very close to the edge of platform 1 and went to speak to him. The male said everything was okay.

“The member of staff said that he needed to move back. The male again said ‘I’m okay, I’m okay’. At this point the member of staff repeated ‘please can you move back’ but the defendant said ‘what are you going to do about it?.’ “Clearly the defendant was under the influence of alcohol due to his slurred speech and the fact he was unsteady on his feet. The member of staff was concerned about the male’s behaviour and the police were called.”

Shabeer Qureshi, defending, said: “This isn’t a case where there was huge disruption to the rail network. He was standing a little too close to the edge, he accepts that.”

Luczynski was also ordered to pay a £34 victim surcharge and £135 in court costs.