Unpaid work sentence for train trouble

A 38-year-old man who caused a disturbance on a train on the Borders Railway and then disrupted the service by preventing it from departing the station in Stow has avoided a custodial sentence.

Selkirk Sheriff Court heard how Ben Sole had been harassing a female passenger when a ticket conductor intervened and told him to move seat.

He was advised to get off the train at Stow and was seen repeatedly kicking and striking the ticket machine.

When Sole, of Wood Street, Galashiels, later tried to board another train he was refused entry and turned aggressive before leaning against the carriage preventing it from departing the station.

When police arrived he made threats towards officers and was arrested and taken to Hawick Police Station.

Sole pleaded guilty to a charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner on a train between Gorebridge and Stow on the evening of Friday, January 23, acting in an aggressive manner, repeatedly swearing and striking a ticket machine at Stow station and making offensive remarks.

Defence lawyer Ed Hulme said his client had suffered alcohol problems for the past 14 years, but since the incident had abstained from drinking.

Sheriff Robert Fife described it as a “dreadful” incident which took up the time of various people involved, and the abuse of police officers and the female passenger on the train.

He imposed 200 hours of unpaid work as an alternative to custody.