Brute battered his own brother in row over vodka bottle

Crazed lout sprayed fire extinguisher at sibling

A thug attacked his own brother and sprayed him with a fire extinguisher on board a train in a row about a bottle of vodka.

Darren Thomson was travelling on a train heading for Paisley Gilmour Street Station with his brother Mark Thomson and a pal when the spat over the booze broke out.

Thomson, 28, grabbed his brother by the throat, slapped him on the face and punched him ten times during the violent bust-up in front of horrified passengers.

The savage attack was caught on CCTV on board the train, which was travelling between Woodhall Station in Port Glasgow and Paisley on June 26 last year.

Thomson, who is currently a prisoner at HMP Barlinnie, appeared via video link at Paisley Sheriff Court, where it was heard the brothers began arguing about a full bottle of vodka on the table of the train.

Procurator fiscal depute David McDonald said: “The accused pulled his brother Mark and pinned him down on to the table within the train carriage.

“Thereafter, the accused slaps his brother and punches him ten times on the head.

“He then grabs his brother by the throat and punches him on the head.

“He then proceeds to activate the fire extinguisher within the carriage and spray it at his brother.”

Thomson pled guilty to assaulting

Mark Thomson on board the train by pushing him on the body, repeatedly pinning him down on the table, repeatedly striking him on the head and body, seizing him by the body and attempting to pull him off the table on the train.

He also admitted repeatedly seizing him by the throat, pinning him down, punching him on the head and removing a fire extinguisher and spraying it in his direction.

Defending Thomson, Terry Gallanagh said there was no fallout between the pair following the incident and that they remain close, despite the bust up.

He also told the court that ongoing difficulties with Valium and alcohol had led to the incident.

The solicitor added: “He recognises that he has a difficulty with alcohol and Valium.

“He has been taking steps to address this.

“He tells me that he fell off the wagon and that is what led to the events of this day.

“He has limited recall, but he and his brother have no continuing dispute with one another.

“They are particularly close.” Addressing Thomson. Sheriff Colin Pettigrew adjourned the case to call for a Criminal Justice Social Work report, adding: “Looking at your record, there is a potential for a return to custody, but I do not have the particular information I need to deal with this today.”

Thomson will return to court for sentencing on May 7.

He tells me that he fell off the wagon and that is what led to the events of this day