Train 'chicken' stunt man jailed

Andrew Ogden, 21, of Chorley, Lancashire, stepped in front of the train travelling at up to 50mph and raised his arm.

The driver of the Manchester Airport to Blackpool service slammed on his emergency brakes when spotting Ogden but thought he had hit him, Preston Crown Court heard.

Judge Pamela Badley said she was satisfied the defendant had shown genuine remorse by writing a letter of apology to the driver but told him that "behaviour such as this could not be tolerated".

Dramatic footage of the incident at Rylands Crossing in Chorley on July 14 last year was captured on CCTV and shown to the court. Ogden was seen falling to the side of the track a split second before the train arrived.

Mr Paul Brookwell, prosecuting, said driver Christopher Hollows thought he was going to hit him as he slammed on his brakes. When the train came to halt, Mr Hollows still thought he had struck Ogden with a glancing blow.

Mr Hollows was later unable to continue the journey as he had been frightened by the incident and was subsequently off work for a week. However, the driver of some 16 years' experience had not suffered any long-term difficulties, Mr Brookwell added.

When arrested by police on November 10, Ogden, of Great Meadow, Astley Village, said he had been drinking and had not thought of the consequences. He told detectives he did it "for a laugh".

Miss Rosalind Emsley-Smith, defending, said Ogden had since recognised it was an irresponsible act conducted in a selfish manner with no regard for his own life or of others. She said: "It seems his behaviour was possibly a fairly loud cry for help."

Ogden pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to obstructing a train under the 1861 Railways Act.