Drunks dice with death at rail station (From York Press)

Drunks dice with death at Knaresborough rail station

8:34am Saturday 28th July 2012 in News By Gavin Aitchison, gavin.aitchison@thepress.co.uk

DRUNKS have been dicing with death and intimidating passengers at a train station on the York to Harrogate line.

One man stopped on the tracks to take a phone call and one climbed on to the signal gantry in the latest in a series of offences at Knaresborough Station.

British Transport Police have stepped up patrols but say they fear it is only a matter of time before a “major incident” arises.

PC Nick Storey said: “We are receiving an increased number of reports from rail staff at the station that groups of men, who we believe have been drinking in the town centre throughout the day, are then going to the station to catch the train and are acting in a drunk and disorderly manner, running across the tracks and climbing on the railway gantries.

“The most recent incident was reported to us on Saturday, July 21, at 7.55pm, and involved a group of ten to 12 men, all aged in their 20s, running across the tracks to the York-bound platform. One the men unbelievably then stopped on the tracks while he made a phone call.”

He said the group left the station but returned after being refused entry to a nearby pub, and began hassling a young man and woman.

PC Storey said one man allegedly pulled down his trousers and pretended to defecate on to the tracks, before climbing the signal gantry and jeering.

Police were called but the men had boarded the 8.14pm train to York.

Police said the main suspect was white, aged about 27, 6ft tall and of an athletic build.

He had white-blond, collar-length hair with a dark dyed strip from the back of his hair to the front.

He was wearing knee length camouflage-style shorts and white trainers, and is believed to be known as “Leon”, said police.

PC Storey said: “We do not want to spoil people having a fun night out but this behaviour is now crossing the line and passengers and staff at the station are being intimidated.

“We are obviously also concerned that someone is going to get seriously hurt and it is only a matter of time before we have a major incident on our hands due to the reckless behaviour of some.”

He said police were speaking to local residents and pub-goers and said those responsible for the offences could be prosecuted and banned from the rail network.

Witnesses can phone police on 0800 405040 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.