Thug who threatened train conductor jailed

Brute was armed with broken bottle during ticket row

A thug has been caged for threatening a train conductor with a broken bottle after he asked for his ticket.

Ross Platt, 42, pounced on Brian Muirhead when he was asked to pay his fare and bawled: “I’m not f*****g buying one.”

He spat in the rail worker’s face, before wrestling him to the floor – causing the driver to run from his cab to help.

Platt was jailed for three years after admitting assault and arming himself with the weapon when he was hauled into Paisley Sheriff Court.

Prosecutor David McDonald told how the lout refused to pay his way and told the victim to “f**k off”.

He said: “Mr Muirhead approached him and asked for his ticket.

“Platt replied, ‘ I don’t f****** have one and I’m not f****** buying one’.

“Mr Muirhead then walked down to the front carriage but was followed by Platt.

“They became involved in a physical struggle.

“During the course of the struggle, both fell to the floor.

“A bottle in Platt’s possession broke and he took the bottle and brandished it while continually shouting and swearing.”

The yob boarded the Glasgow Central to Paisley Canal service at Crookston with a pal.

He stalked Mr Muirhead to the front of the carriage after hurling abuse at him.

Platt attacked as the train pulled into Hawkhead during the trip on January 18.

Mr Muirhead tried to push him out onto the platform but Platt fought back.

The train driver heard the rammy and the men managed to get him outside.

Cops arrived and detained Platt – but he kicked-off again.

He repeatedly booted the cell door of a police van and had to be taken to the nearby Royal Alexandra Hospital to treat a wound on his finger.

Defence lawyer Eamonn McGeehan revealed his client had enough money for a ticket, but had “no intention” of buying one.

He said: “He accepts his behaviour was completely unacceptable.”

The court heard Platt had been released earlier from a prison stretch when he sparked the row.

The freeloader – who has a previous conviction for carrying a weapon – also pled guilty to acting in a threatening or abusive manner.

He struck a deal which saw claims he assaulted the driver and threatened police at A& E dropped.

Sheriff Tom McCartney insisted Platt must be jailed to keep others safe.

He said: “In deciding upon an appropriate sentence in this matter, a very significant factor is that the conduct was directed towards a ticket examiner working in the course of his employment.

“It is important that the courts deal with such conduct with sufficiently robust sentences, as to protect people who work while dealing with the public.

“One equally significant factor in this case is your record of previous convictions.

“You have numerous convictions for violence.

“Your most recent was in 2015 for having with you an offensive weapon.

“For these reasons, only prison is appropriate and it has to be a substantial sentence to reflect these factors.”