A MAN and woman have been sentenced following a violent incident on a late-night train from Chester to Flint.

Both appeared at Chester Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, July 5.

John Atherton, 36, of Rhyl, pleaded guilty to affray and was handed an 18 week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

He was also instructed to abstain from alcohol for 120 days, ordered to take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for 35 days and has to pay £234 in victim surcharge and court fees.

Sarah Hickman, 51, of Monmouth Grove in Prestatyn, pleaded guilty to common assault and was given a community order, instructing her to take part in 80 hours of unpaid work and also told to pay £234 for victim surcharge and court fees.

Following a night out with friends in Chester on Saturday, 15 October last year, where both had been drinking, Atherton and Hickman boarded a busy Chester to Flint train at around 11.15pm.

With limited space on the busy service, Hickman got into a verbal altercation with another woman about seating, then proceeded to reach over and pull the victim’s hair. 

The victim, along with several of her friends, then moved away from Hickman and stood in the vestibule area of the train.

Atherton then made the decision to follow the group of women to the vestibule area, swearing and using threatening gestures towards them and proceeded to pull the hair of an unknown woman. 

A man nearby intervened to stop the situation escalating but was put in a headlock by Atherton.

Atherton was eventually taken to the floor by a number of passengers as the train came to a stop at Rhyl station and he and Hickman were met by police at the scene.

Speaking about the incident, police constable Nathan Lewis from British Transport Police said: “What started out as a fun night for both groups of people, ended up with two arrests and three nasty assaults. 

“While alcohol could have been a contributing factor in this incident, it is by no means any excuse for this type of behaviour where all passengers should expect to travel on the rail network without fear of violence.

“We have a zero-tolerance approach to violence on the network and will always take action to ensure those responsible are brought before the courts to face justice.

“I would like to remind passengers if they ever witness behaviour like this, or anything else which makes them feel uncomfortable, they can text us discreetly on 61016.”