Mohammed Essad headbutted and punched staff member
A man who assaulted a member of staff at Clapham Junction after being asked to move his bike, has been given a 12 month suspended sentence and ordered to pay more than £2,000 in compensation.
Mohammed Essad, 24, of Dalgarno Gardens, Ladbroke Grove, was sentenced at Blackfriars Crown Court last week after pleading guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm at an earlier hearing.
The court was told he headbutted and punched a 'travel safe' officer on a London Overground train at Clapham Junction after being asked to move his bicycle on the afternoon of Wednesday, 13 May 2015.
Essad had been told bikes were not allowed on peak time services and, the court heard, was asked to move the bike to a less crowded part of the train.
He reacted violently to this request, punching and headbutting his victim, before fleeing the train.
British Transport Police arrested Essad after he was identified following an appeal on BBC’s Crimewatch programme.
Speaking after sentencing, Detective Constable Denis Mahoney said, “Rail staff are vital to the smooth running of the network and should be able to go about their work without the fear of violence.
“The victim sustained several nasty cuts to his face and required hospital treatment following this attack. I am pleased for him that we have been able to bring Essad to account.
“I would like to thank the public for their help in identifying him, and urge anyone who has been a victim of violence or threatening behaviour to report it to police.”
David Wornham, Customer Service Director for London Overground said, “London Overground will not tolerate assaults on our staff and we are delighted the perpetrator has been brought to justice.
“We would like place on record our thanks to BTP for all their efforts in this unpleasant case.”
Essad was sentenced to 12 months suspended for 18 months. He was ordered to pay £2,436 in compensation and court costs of £340 and h is bicycle was confiscated.
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