Man jailed for assaulting police officers and attacking railway staff

At around 8pm on Monday (February 24), Dafydd Sidaway-Jones, 18, from Llanelli, became aggressive towards a Transport for Wales train conductor and driver at Pembrey and Burry Port railway station after being asked to leave the train when he refused to pay the fare.

Sidaway-Jones threw punches towards the two members of staff, kicked the train doors when he was ejected from the train and also crossed the railway line several times.

Two Dyfed Powys Police officers were at the scene and were assaulted by Sidaway-Jones on the platform as they arrested him.

Appearing at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court, Sidaway-Jones pleaded guilty to trespass on the railway, two counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker and a section 4a public order offence. He was handed a 22-week sentence in a young offender’s institution and ordered to pay £50 compensation.

BTP Sergeant Ben Randall-Webb said: “This was an aggressive act of violence towards several innocent people simply trying to do their job. Staff have every right to go to work without the fear of violence and we will not tolerate this type of behaviour on the railway.

“I am pleased to see the judge hand Sidaway-Jones this sentence and we will do everything we can to investigate offenders like this and bring them to justice.”

Transport for Wales Security Manager, Simon Turton, said: “Our colleagues and customers expect to carry out their duties and complete their journeys safely, and we do not tolerate incidents of this nature.

“This started as a fare evasion, but escalated quickly into very aggressive behaviour against our colleagues and then the police, while the individual also put himself in severe danger by running on the tracks.

“We work closely with our partners in the British Transport Police to help them investigate offences and we are also looking to develop closer working with them and Dyfed Powys Police to keep the rail network safe in Carmarthenshire.”