A LAW STUDENT drove along Platform 3 of York Railway Station so his friend could catch a train on time, York magistrates heard.

Staff and passengers watched in disbelief as the Toyota Corolla drove under the footbridge at more than 15mph and came to a stop just outside the waiting room.

It then reversed and started to drive back. But officials had blocked its way and the driver's final destination was the courts.

Joseph Sykes, 40, was due to appear before York magistrates yesterday.

When he was an hour overdue, they started without him.

In his absence, the law student from Larches Avenue, London SW14, was convicted of breaking British Railways bylaws and fined £250 with £100 costs.

The maximum fine was £500. He had denied the offence at an earlier hearing.

It is believed to be the first time that a car, other than 999 vehicles, has driven along the platform.

GNER Welcome Host Keith Rowland, who has worked at York station for 14 years, told magistrates he had just come out of the station offices on the footbridge at about 7.30pm on Sunday 12 October when he saw the Corolla.

It drove out of the short-stay car park on to the platform.

He alerted the duty manager and pursued the car as it drove towards the waiting room where someone got out of the car and took some boxes out near the waiting room.

The car then reversed and turned round before it was stopped, said Mr Rowland. About five or six people were on the platform.

PC Jason Ridgway said he asked Sykes why he had driven the car on to the platform.

He said: "Because I was concerned about meeting a promise to a friend that I would get him to the 7.33 train on time."

Two signs at the entry to the platform clearly state that it can only be used by emergency services vehicles.

* The 7.33 train, a London service, was late that day.

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