From the British Transport Police
press release:
A rail enthusiast is being put forward for a police commendation after his quick actions helped officers from British Transport Police (BTP▸ ) catch and convict a man for endangering safety and trespassing on the railway.
Northallerton Magistrates Court heard how the rail enthusiast took photos that provided vital evidence leading to the conviction of Paul Andrew Dawson, aged 22 from Leeman Road, York who was sentenced to 18 weeks imprisonment on 25 September 2009.
The rail enthusiast, who doesn^t wish to be named, was taking photos of the East Coast Mainline in the Overton Area of Poppleton in York on Bank Holiday Monday, 13 April 2009, when he witnessed Dawson and four other youths trespassing on the line. He also saw Dawson destroying a speed sign on the side of the tracks.
The quick thinking enthusiast then zoomed in on the offenders and took photos of them committing the offence. He then promptly informed BTP. BTP immediately launched an investigation, viewed the photos and made enquiries to identify and trace the offenders.
Dawson, who has previous convictions for a number of offences, was arrested and charged. The four youths who were seen accompanying him trespassing received reprimands and final warnings
PC Nick Storey from BTP said: ^I have no doubt that this rail enthusiast^s quick thinking helped us identify and convict Dawson, who initially denied the offence on a number of occasions. He finally admitted his guilt shortly before the trial was about to start. The East Coast Mainline is a very busy passenger line, Dawson was putting his own life at serous risk, luckily no-one was injured. Our thanks go to the rail enthusiast whose photographic evidence was vital in solving this crime and bringing Dawson to justice.^
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