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A ticket inspector has been stabbed on a C2C train travelling from Essex into London, prompting an investigation by British Transport Police (BTP).

The attack at East Tilbury happened on the 20:20 Southend Victoria to London Fenchurch Street service on Friday.

BTP said the inspector had asked two men without tickets, aged about 18, to leave the train. They got off, but one returned and stabbed him in the back.

The inspector was said to be in a comfortable condition in hospital.

Officers are now looking through CCTV images and are appealing to any passengers on the train who witnessed anything to contact them.

One of the suspects wore a black hooded top and the second a grey flat cap and grey top.

The police force said there had been four ticket inspectors on the service at the time of the stabbing and that they worked in pairs.

Bob Crow, general secretary of the Rail Maritime and Transport union representing many railway workers, said anyone with any information should contact police urgently.

"Once again it shows the dangers that transport staff face every day and particularly over the Christmas and new year period.

"The perpetrators of this vicious and cowardly assault must be caught and the authorities need to show that those who attack public service workers will be severely punished," he said.

POLICE RELEASE CCTV AND APPEAL FOR INFORMATION AFTER MEMBER OF RAIL STAFF IS STABBED ^ EAST TILBURY, ESSEX‏

British Transport Police (BTP) detectives have released CCTV images and are continuing to appeal for information after a member of c2c rail staff was stabbed in the back at East Tilbury rail station on Friday, 16 December.

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BTP and Essex Police officers were called to the station at 8.53pm on Friday, 16 December following a report that a member of c2c revenue protection staff had been stabbed on a train.

The incident took place on the 8.20pm c2c service from Southend Central bound for Fenchurch Street.

A BTP spokesman said: ^The member of staff had asked two men to leave the train at East Tilbury as they didn^t have tickets to travel. An altercation took place, resulting in the member of staff being stabbed in the back by one of the men, who both immediately fled the scene.

^Paramedics from the East of England Ambulance Service attended and the member of staff, a 42-year-old man, was taken to Basildon University Hospital for treatment. He received three stitches for the wound and it is expected that he will be released from hospital later today.^

BTP Chief Superintendent Paul Brogden said: ^This was an appalling and disgraceful attack on a man who was simply doing his job and who had quite rightly asked the men to leave the train.

^Attacks of this nature on rail staff are rare, but we are treating this incident very seriously. I have a team of detectives currently making enquiries into this incident, including speaking with witnesses and looking at CCTV, and we will do everything in our power to catch those responsible.

^We have released CCTV images of two men who we want to identify and question in connection with this incident. Both are white and aged in their late teens. One was wearing a black hooded top and the second a grey top and grey flat cap. If you can tell us who these men are, or have any information that could assist our investigation, my team want to hear from you.^

Julian Drury, Managing Director of c2c, said: ^A member of our revenue protection staff was stabbed at East Tilbury whilst in the course of his duties. He is receiving treatment in hospital and we are providing all necessary duty of care and support to him and his family.

^We deplore this incident, which is being fully investigated by the British Transport Police. Thankfully incidents of this nature are extremely rare and maximum efforts are being made to identify the suspects.^

Anyone who recognises the men in the images should contact British Transport Police on Freefone 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 602 of 16/12/11.

Two brothers who attacked two ticket inspectors, stabbing one of them, on a London-bound train have been sentenced.

Robert Culley, 17, stabbed a man in the back while Charles Culley, 19, punched another after being challenged for having no tickets on a c2c train.

Robert admitted wounding and possession of a knife and was given four years detention at Basildon Crown Court.

Charles admitted common assault and must serve four months. Both are from Darwin Road, Tilbury.

The court lifted reporting restrictions placed on defendants aged under 18 to allow Robert Culley to be identified.

Speaking after the case, British Transport Police said the brothers boarded the 20:20 GMT Southend Central to Fenchurch Street c2c service on 16 December and were approached by staff.

'Appalling and disgraceful'
Inspectors told the pair to get off the train at East Tilbury, the next stop, as they did not have tickets.


CCTV images of the brothers helped track them down, British Transport Police said
When it arrived at the station, an altercation ensued, with one inspector being punched in the face and Robert Culley stabbing the other under one of his arms using a four-inch knife.

They then ran off and the wounded inspector was taken to Basildon University Hospital, where he received stitches and was later discharged.

British Transport Police said CCTV images were used in the media the next day, leading to the brothers' arrests on 18 December.

Det Con David Bishop said: "This was an appalling and disgraceful attack on two men who were simply doing their job and who had quite rightly asked the brothers to leave the train."

c2c managing director Julian Drury said that since the incident, it had introduced new teams of enforcement officers travelling on daytime and late-night trains along the c2c route.

Teenager jailed after stabbing ticket inspector on c2c train

A TEENAGER who a stabbed a ticket inspector has been jailed for four years.

17-year-old Robert Culley and his brother, Charles, 19, attacked the man and a colleague when they asked them to leave a c2c train.

The teens boarded the 8.20pm Southend Central to Fenchurch Street service on Friday, December 16 without tickets.

As the train pulled into East Tilbury, an altercation between the four men broke out with one inspector being punched in the face, while Robert stabbed the man in his left armpit with the four-inch blade.

The pair - both of Darwin Road, Tilbury - were sentenced at Basildon Crown Court yesterday today with Robert, who had earlier pleaded guilty to wounding and possession of a bladed article, receiving four-year and two-year detention orders, set to run concurrently.

Charles Culley, who had pleaded guilty to common assault, was given a four-month detention and training order.