A "loutish, boorish and drunken" company director left a fellow commuter permanently scarred after a 'seat rage' attack on a late-night train.
Financial consultant Kevin Fowler, 45, (pictured) punched the victim, who had placed his laptop bag on a seat, causing a 2.5cm cut under his left eye.
When quizzed by police after a night in a cell he complained: "I'm a middle-aged, middle-class bloke standing up for the rights of rail travellers, who have a right to use a seat."
Fowler, of Withdean Avenue, Goring-by-Sea, Worthing was convicted of assaulting 38 year-old account manager Adrian Farthing on August 4, last year.
He was sentenced today to a twelve month community order, which includes 200 hours community service work and ordered to pay £1500 compensation to the victim and £550 costs.
The Brighton victim told Croydon Magistrates' Court he was sitting on a train at London Bridge Station at 11.15pm.
"A gentleman came in, picked up my leather laptop bag and threw it onto my lap. He said he had a ticket and every right to sit there," Mr. Farthing told the court.
"He threatened me with words along the lines of: 'You'd better shut up before I shut you up.'
"I laughed and turned away, which may have inflamed the situation and provoked him into hitting me over the head.
"There was a blow and I was knocked forward and must have hit the tray in front of me to cause the cut on my face.
"He was very, very drunk, his words were slurry and he was very, very rude and arrogant."
Fowler, who insisted he had no more than four or five complementary pints after a business seminar, told the court: "I felt it was anti-social behaviour. He had his bag on the seat and food on the flip-down tray in front of that seat.
"When I put the bag in his lap it was not with undue force.
"I was irritated, but not annoyed. He laughed at me in a way to demean me. He was being very sarcastic."
Fowler claimed he was attempting to defend himself from Mr. Farthing when his wristwatch caught the complainant's eye.
He insisted the victim kicked him and produced a photograph of an ankle injury to the court.
The first-time offender was arrested at East Croydon Station and questioned the next day.
"To my disappointment I was treated like a common criminal and spent a sleepless night in a cell. I have never been in trouble before.
"The whole thing is an embarrassment. This was more like school playground behaviour than how a middle-aged, middle-class bloke like me should behave."
District Judge Justin Barron told Ex-Barclays man Fowler, who employs fifty staff: "Your behaviour has been described as loutish, drunken and boorish.
"Your demeanour in the witness stand has come over as aggressive and sarcastic and it is far more likely you received that injury through your own drunken behaviour.
"The complainant received a two and a half centimetre laceration below the left eye and is permanently scarred."
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