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Good Samaritan is beaten unconscious by train teenagers
Rob Singh, Evening Standard07.04.08
Police are today hunting a violent teenage gang after a commuter was kicked unconscious when he came to the aid of a woman being assaulted.
The brave 43-year-old civil servant stepped in to help after the group hurled a traffic cone at the passenger, hitting her on the head.
As the Good Samaritan checked if she was all right he was confronted by one of the group and was set upon by the eight-strong mob of teenagers.
He was punched and kicked unconscious and suffered a broken collar bone, two broken teeth and broken ribs.
British Transport Police described the assault, caught on CCTV footage as "a cowardly and vicious attack". Detectives are keen to catch the gang in case they strike again.
Police today released CCTV pictures of the gang on the train shortly after the attack which happened on the 10.39pm service from Waterloo to Guildford on 15 March.
BTP Detective Constable Vanessa Cottington said: "When the train arrived at Wimbledon the carriage doors opened and a group of youths on the platform became abusive to passengers on the train.
"The same group had moments earlier been abusive to staff manning the gates at the station.
"Food, drink and a traffic cone were thrown into the carriage, resulting in a female suffering a bump to the head.
"A fellow passenger, who came to the defence of the injured female, approached the group to speak with the male who threw the cone.
"He was then assaulted by a group of six to eight youths and was kicked unconscious."
She added: "This was a cowardly and vicious assault on a passenger who was coming to the defence of a female who was injured in a completely unprovoked attack."
The victim is recovering from his ordeal as he was travelling home but is unlikely to return to work for some time, such was the ferocity of the beating.
CCTV shows the group leaving the station after the attack and heading towards Wimbledon's Centre Court shopping centre. Dc Cottington said: "We are circulating a series of still images of several males who we would like to identify as part of our ongoing investigations."
This violent attack comes as the Evening Standard continues its Safer Stations campaign, which was launched after the murder of Tom ap Rhys Pryce as he walked home from a Tube station in 2006.
He was killed in an attack by robbers after he left Kensal Green station, which was unmanned, late at night.
Anyone who recognises anyone in the CCTV picture should call British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40, or the witness appeal line on 020 7391 5275.
Reader views (20)
Why were these thugs not stopped at the gates and prevented from entering the station? It is actually an offence to be disorderly on the railway or even just drunk. I know why - they would simply "kick off" and assault the people there, in the full knowledge they will get hardly any punishment of any sort if they are caught. The courts just let them off the hook - they'll get a paltry fine or community service when they deserve the birch. That's why the law abiding walk in fear and why the criminals commit such offences. This country is going down the drain!
- Huw Morgan, London, UK
Jay, West,
I am surprised that, with the manner of issue we are posting on, you can only take task with regard to a fellow posters comments.
Glad to find you have got your priorities in order.
A real case of far too many words crammed into far to little thought.
- Jason, London
Jay - what a ridiculous post. Teenage violence, stabbing and murder is up considerably since I was a kid, any fool knows that. This type of thing was virtually unheard of.
In using this thread where so many clearly feel so passionately about a subject to have a personal knee-jerk dig with no real point or facts of your own, you've only in fact succeeded in making yourself seem woefully childish.
- Stuart Dean, Beckton, London
Don't hold your breath on this one folks, sod all will happen to them in court.
Which is why this sort of thing keeps happening, and will continue to happen, and get even worse.
The do gooders who let these type of people off, are as guilty as the perpetrators, and should be locked up as well.
- Neil Grinsell, London
Mr Striker asks "Why fear a bunch of gobby teenagers", quite simply because the law is on their side on not ours. The time when you could give them a clip around the ear has gone and you'll now find yourself either on the receiving end of a knife or being sent down for assaulting a minor. Unfortunately the pc brigade have destroyed this country and scum like this can do as they please whilst the rest of us feel powerless to help. The last time I stepped in to help a woman on the receiving end of abuse another passenger proceeded to remonstrate me saying that the situation had nothing to do with me (he apparently didn't see the irony of his point), thus next time I see someone in distress I will endeavour to steer clear of the situation lest I offend another passenger.
- Mark Yecards, London
Scum and to be frank if they are haooy to act the big "man" then they should be tried and sentenced as men.
This sort of attack should be minimum five years, no parole.
It is about time parents and brainless scum like this group were handed out proper punishment and made an example of.
To be honest, I can see vigilante groups appearing on the streets sooner rather than later if this continues.
Part of me would welcome these low rent gangs on the street corners getting a bit of it back.
No respect, no class, no brains.
Oh and what was it Red Ken said recently "crime is down over 20 percent". Best laugh for a long while.
- Jason, London
Sad to see these type of crap is not only happening in America. We need to stop feeling sorry for the ones committing these acts and have empathy for the victims. These kids need to be taught a lesson. They should face tough punishment for their actions. Time for tough love.
- Dr. Bill, USA
On Christmas eve 5 youths threw an 'alco pop' bottle through the window of my people carrier. I immediately called the police and followed these youths and challenged them to stop, this was 2am in the morning. I was attacked and the whole thing recorded on the 999 call. I managed to get away and continue to follow these thugs at a safe distance, informing the police my current location. To my horror the police operator told me they would send the police to arrest me if I didn't get off the phone.
It took over 1hr for me to follow the youth who caused the criminal damage to his home. The police had still not arrived. Half an hour later 1 solitary officer arrive, an arrest was made.
Four months later the case has yet to come to court, the Police have done little to keep me informed. The window on my vehicle has been smashed for the 2nd time. That's what you get for attempting to uphold the law in 21st century Britain. The Police are ineffective, much more interested in chasing motorists.
What has happened to the gentleman who stood up to these thugs is unsurprising, I commend his bravery. I feel the answer lies in real support to protect the family, the breakdown of which is leading to the violent disorder seen in our children today.
- Sam Munday, Twickenham
I am a central London GP. Within the last two years, two of my patients have suffered hate-crime assaults on London Transport. Both have suffered severe permanent brain damage as a result. In neither instance were the perpetrators caught, despite abundant CCTV footage. I conclude:
1) that London Transport is a very dangerous way to travel.
2) that the dangers are not mitigated by CCTV.
- Desmond Persaud, Wimbledon, London
''The next generation of "human beings" on this planet make me feel physically sick. And I'm only 31.''
I'm pleased you're not making a ridiculous generalisation, and I'm sure no vicious crimes happened at all when you were a lad, eh?...
Still, at least you've managed to sound like an incompetent old fool way before your time.
- Jay, West
Re-establish death penalty for " assault with possibility of life threatening injury". If we have to clean this up one-by-one so be it.
It maybe archaic but some of today's behaviour is "dark age" society. We send bombs and missiles in order to restore civil rights in far corners of the world, lets put a bit of hard justice on the streets. With today's technology many of this crimes are incontestable as evidence is often quite vivid. Any person how in a few short seconds would risk the life of an innocent, should should be shown the same limited latitude by a "peoples justice system".
- Dw, Anglesey, N.Wales
Goetz had the right idea. We can't rely on Plod to keep the peace and uphold law and order, therefore any response to bullies must involve overwhelming violence.
- Micky, London
well done new labour and all the useful things they've done for this country including making it impossible to travel to and from work safely. On top of which then kick us out of our cars and force us onto public transport where this kind of stuff happens. Cheers Tony and Gordon and well done everyone who voted for them.
- Spaqman, london
Does Wimbledon come under London? Then let Mr Livingstone come forth and defend his running of London with its never ending stabbings and violence.
- Shona, London
Real tough guys, eight against one, so brave so hard of them, my thoughts go out to the courages man who come to the ladies aid, you sir are a real man.
- Brian, wiltshire
In spite of my own upbringing, wouldn't it be bloody lovely for them to realise that, for the foreseeable future, they'd all be panicked with the thought that they were each going to each get an occasional punch in the mouth from fine, upstanding people, police officers and anyone who feels indignant at their scummy MacDonald's lives.
- Marino, london
Look at these fine upstanding twerps.
Why is it that only one person stands up to this group? Why are travellers so blinkered that they will not support and back-up one lone voice when things are obviously wrong and the perpetrators can undeniably be identified.
There is a thing called citizens arrest. There is also a thing called dishing out a severe hiding to these scum.
Why fear a bunch of gobby teenagers, they dished out the hiding to one brave soul who had the wherewithal to try and remonstrate with these moronic wastes of air and resources.
No doubt if caught, the scum will be given the earth for being deprived. Utter tosh.
The faces have been remembered. Come-uppance is around a corner for them one hopes.
- John Striker, London
As usual lots of camera work and paper shuffling but... no police man around...
What kind of nation have we become?
- Smiles, London
Such a shame that, should the unthinkable happen and these "children" get caught, the only punishment they and their disgracefully inept parents are likely to receive is a ticking off at most.
The next generation of "human beings" on this planet make me feel physically sick. And I'm only 31.
- Stuart Dean, Beckton, London
The pictures are clear enough, so someone must recognise this scum. Now we have to trust in the legal system to punish them appropriately - but I m not holding my breath. They should get a minimum of 2 years in a prison, not a young offenders holiday camp.
- Paul, London
