Thug headbutted man on to track ‘inches’ from rail

Dad was pulled up ‘10 seconds’ before train

AD A D was headbutted onto a track seconds before a Subway arrived. Postman Brian Cleary, 53, was attacked by David Russell, 27, in Glasgow’s Buchanan Street Underground Station on August 17, 2019.

Mr Cleary had earlier confronted a friend of Russell after he was called a “paedo” in front of his 22-year-old daughter Kirsti.

Russell, a whiskey cooper, rushed forward and lunged at Mr Cleary who flipped on to the track landing inches from a 600-volt rail.

Mr Cleary was fortunately pulled from danger just 10 seconds before the train pulled up to the station.

Russell, of Stepps, pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to an assault to Mr Cleary’s injury, impairment and danger of his life.

The court heard Mr Cleary and his daughter had been at a football match and a pub before heading home by subway.

A drunk

Russell and his group of friends were standing on the platform close to Mr Cleary.

Prosecutor John Bedford said: “One of the group, not the accused, shouted paedo in the direction of Mr and Miss Cleary.

“There was an exchange of words between the Clearys and the group of males making mention to Dundee prior to the word paedo being shouted.

“Mr Cleary approached the group to ask why they shouted that with his daughter closely behind.

“As he got to the group, the accused came from the back and immediately head butted Mr Cleary causing him to fall backwards directly onto the subway track.

“Mr Cleary feared he was going to die as he believed a train was coming and knew he had to get up onto the platform.”

Commuters helped Mr Cleary who drifted in and out of consciousness to the platform while his daughter was in hysterics.

Mr Bedford added: “Mr Cleary was helped up to the platform at 21.37.08 and the train is seen arriving at the platform at 21.37.18.”

The group fled the scene to nearby Queen Street train station and went home as a 999 call was made from the subway station.

Mr Cleary was taken to hospital for treatment for wounds and bruises on his skin, head, arms shoulder and knee. There was no head trauma or major injuries and he has made a full recovery other than numbness to his middle finger.

It was later discovered that Mr Cleary’s leg landed “inches” from a 600-volt rail.

Mr Bedford said: “There is potential to be killed if a person was to come into contact with this rail or seriously injured.”

Callum Ross, defending, told the court that Russell acted like a “drunken oaf” at the scene.

The lawyer said: “In a split second he put his future in jeopardy and that is not lost on him.”

Sentence was deferred until next month for background reports by Sheriff Joan Kerr who bailed Russell meantime.