A MAN who assaulted two women on a York train has been jailed for 24 weeks.

Christopher Neil Gregory, of St Stephens Road, York, admitted two counts of assault by beating and a charge of trespassing on railway property when he appeared at York Magistrates’ Court.

The court heard Gregory, 24, was on a train from the east coast to York at about 3.30pm on January 24, when he began shouting at his partner, Rebecca Bennison, in front of a hen party travelling to the city.

The court heard Ms Bennison appeared in distress, and was shouting “get off me”.

One of the hen party, Nicola Gledhill, tried to intervene but Gregory became aggressive, got to his feet and shouted “Does anyone else want to tell me what to do?”

The court heard Gregory deliberately pushed into Ms Gledhill as the train arrived in York, then hit her with his bag when she pushed him back. She threw his bag from the train. Gregory then punched Ms Gledhill in the face, and got off the train.

When other passengers went to get help, the court heard Gregory jumped on to the tracks and climbed on to the platform before running away through the station car park.

Richard Minion, for Gregory, said his client admitted both counts of assault by beating and one count of trespassing on railway property, and pointed out Ms Bennison had not wanted to press charges against him.

Mr Minion said the pair had a six-month old baby, and “she wants the relationship to continue”, but Gregory fully accepted he faced a custodial sentence.

Mr Minion said: “He had not been drinking for a number of months as he previously acknowledged alcohol was a factor in his behaviour.

“He does not recall clearly what led to the argument taking place.

He is not at all proud of his actions, particularly dealing with conflict in front of him. He accepts pushing past a female passenger, she pushed him in the back and he reacted how he did.”

Gregory was sentenced to eight weeks in prison for each offence, a total of 24 weeks.