'Commuter Rage' Case: Charges Dropped

A Milton Keynes commuter, who denied aggressively calling a ticket inspector a “fucking dickhead” while grabbing his jacket, looked pleased after accepting a bindover yesterday.

Father-of-three Stephen Archer, 41, of Church Road, Brickhill was accused of queue-jumping at busy Euston station during the evening rush-hour.

A ticket inspector who challenged him told police the defendant was verbally abusive and grabbed him, but the charges were dropped after Archer conceded his behaviour was out of line.

He was found not guilty at City of London Magistrates' Court of assaulting Benjamin Johnson and using threatening behaviour on November 16, last year and was boundover in the sum of £200 for twelve months.

“The defendant was walking down the ramp to platform six, where there was a queue forming and the defendant was seen walking to the side by a ticket inspector,” explained prosecutor Mr. Satya Chotalia.

“When he asked to see his ticket Mr. Archer aggressively called him a: 'Fucking dickhead,' ansd grabbed the ticket inspector's jacket.

“It turned out Mr. Archer did have a valid ticket for travel and it was a minor assault, a grabbing of the jacket.

“He was not trying to fare evade, but just get to his train quicker.”

Archer's lawyer Mr. James Lester said: “He is a professional man with a young family and had never been arrested before.

“He wished to apologise at the time for his conduct, his behaviour fell well short of the standards he sets himself in his life that evening.

“He wishes to apologise in open court for his behaviour.

“There was no intent to fare evade and there was no obligation to queue because there were other entrances to that concourse.

“He has caused embarrasment to himself, his family and his employers as a result of this incident.

“He did have a couple of alcoholic drinks that evening and that may have had an effect.”

Archer, who maintains his good character, was ordered to pay £500 costs.