From the
Worcester News:
A passenger assaulted three rail staff and hurled racial abuse at one of them after downing nine pints in the centre of Worcester.
Luke Horan, age 24, of Redmoor Way, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, was at Worcester Foregate Street station with friends at 5pm on Tuesday, December 27.
They had travelled to Worcester to watch a rugby match at the Sixways stadium but ended up watching it in the city centre after learning tickets were sold out.
Matt Dodson, prosecuting at Worcester Magistrates Court, said a member of station staff, Justin Lee, approached the group after reports of a man running across the line. But as Mr Lee spoke to one of them, Horan came up very close to him, grabbed him by the throat and pulled his tie.
Horan then boarded his train, but when he was told the train would not be going anywhere after Mr Lee told conductor Frederick Pritchard what had happened, he responded with abusive language and took Mr Pritchard^s pen and flicked it at him.
When train driver, Shafiq Khan, asked him to get off, Horan said: ^Are you going to make me, Muslim?^ He called him a ^terrorist^ and put his head into Mr Khan^s face, flicking his glasses up and down with his forehead.
Mr Dodson read out statements from all three staff. Each said the incident was unprovoked and had caused them to fear for their safety.
Mr Khan said he had dealt with many incidents over the years but this felt ^particularly nasty and very personal^.
In his police interview Horan admitted he had drunk nine or 10 pints and was feeling ^quite tipsy^.
Phillip Haycock, defending, said the sign fitter had only a vague recollection of events. He had friends of mixed race and would not normally demonstrate prejudice.
^This was clearly a very unpleasant incident but it was out of character. He is very ashamed and would like to apologise unreservedly.^
Horan admitted two charges of assault by beating and one of racially aggravated assault. He was bailed to return for sentencing on February 29.
Click on the map to explore geographics
