Train pest off the rails
Court Reporter TRAIN passengers and staff were left terrified when this “man mountain” went on a railway rampage.
Laurence Mutasa brought fear to the East Coast Mainline service with a series of attacks as it sped through the North East.
A court heard the drunk 37-yearold sexually assaulted a woman, attacked two students, assaulted a catering worker and lashed out at a train guard aboard the Virgin train.
He made thrusting motions behind a food trolley worker, pestered a mum carrying a baby and verbally abused passengers.
Victims and witnesses were left shocked and horrified at what they were seeing in the enclosed space.
Locking up Mutasa for 12 months, a judge at Newcastle Crown Court branded his behaviour “disgraceful”.
Judge Amanda Rippon told him: “To describe you as a nuisance, pest, absolute horror, does not do justice to what you inflicted on the passengers that day.”
The court heard Mutasa was on board a train from London to Scotland in April last year.
Prosecutor Angus Taylor said: “One witness described him as looking like a body builder, which was a common theme within the statements, another described him as being a man mountain.”
Mutasa’s first attack was on two students. He “penned in” the female by sitting beside her and put his hands on her leg, arm, and shoulder, causing her fear.
Mutasa then turned his attention on the victim’s male friend, who he repeatedly slapped on the head.
The court heard Mutasa argued with passengers who objected to his behaviour then hit a member of catering staff who stepped in to help.
As the train headed north, Mutasa pestered a mum and 13-month old baby. When a train guard arrived, Mutasa elbowed him in the chest “extremely hard.”
The court heard after he was attacked, the guard managed to call police and four British Transport Police officers joined the service at Berwick and arrested him.
When interviewed later, he had “no recollection of events at all”.
Mutasa, of Brohouse, Medway, Edinburgh, pleaded guilty to four charges of common assault, one of sexual assault and one public order offence.
The court heard he had 50 previous convictions which include offences of violence, disorder and dishonesty. His barrister said he had pleaded guilty to the offences.