Railway Station Bust-Up Forces Victim On To Live Tracks

Two drunken thugs who wielded metal chairs grabbed from a train station coffee shop – forcing the target of their anger onto live railway tracks – have dodged prison.

After a day’s drinking at Ascot Racecourse the pair, who have a history of causing trouble, got into a row with another group, which was captured on CCTV at Richmond railway station (pictured).

Bricklayer Michael Lester, 25, of Debden Close, Kingston-upon-Thames and health and safety student James Elderfield, 23, of Lowlands Road, Eastcote, Middlesex both pleaded guilty to causing an affray on June 18, last year.

Croydon Crown Court heard ex-football hooligan Lester, who has two affray convictions and recently completed a soccer banning order, was celebrating his birthday at the races, with pal Elderfield.

On their return Lester and Elderfield, who has convictions for threatening and disorderly behaviour, got involved in a row between a group and an unknown couple on the platform.

“You got involved after that other couple got attacked,” Recorder Alastair Hammerton told the pair. “There was a physical struggle with that other group, you slapped and pushed and received punches to the head and face.

“You armed yourselves with two metal chairs from the coffee shop and approached the group brandishing the chairs,” added the Recorder. “You swung them around and used them as weapons.

“One of the group, Michael McDermott, lost his balance and fell onto the railway tracks. You are fortunate he did not receive injury or was electrocuted.”

The terrified coffee shop staff barricaded themselves in after the chairs were grabbed and after the attack the defendants fled to a nearby pub.

Father-of-two Lester was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, placed under eighteen months supervision, which includes anger management classes and was ordered to perform 240 hours unpaid community service work.

Elderfield was sentenced to seven months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, placed under twelve months supervision and ordered to perform 240 hours community service.