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Monday 16 Jan 2006

RAIL THUG GETS 18 MONTHS

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A vicious thug who left a rail worker hospitalised has been found guilty of grievous bodily harm and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment. Ian Parsons, aged 19 and from the Openshaw area of Manchester, was given the custodial sentence at Manchester Crown Court last week following the assault last October on Duncan Law, a duty station manager at Manchester Piccadilly station. At about a quarter past two in the morning, Mr Law was on duty at the station when he approached a young man, apparently waiting for a taxi, to tell him that the taxi rank was closed. Following a brief conversation, Mr Law was struck. Network Rail’s area general manager Jo Kaye said: “I will not tolerate anyone abusing or assaulting my staff and will do whatever I can to bring them to justice. Duncan was simply doing his job and did not deserve to be assaulted just because the taxi rank was closed.” Following extensive investigations by the British Transport Police and a publicity campaign by Network Rail, Mr Parsons gave himself up to police, a fact that is reflected in his sentence. Mr Law has only just returned to work and is currently on light duties.