A Buckfast-fuelled passenger who attacked his sleeping girlfriend on a train from Carlisle to Newcastle shouted "That belongs to me, if I want to put my f**** hands on it, I will" after pulling her hair and slapping her face. William Harris, 43, made the comments after the assault, which happened as the service stopped on Tyneside.
Attack on the train
Newcastle Magistrates' Court heard that Harris tried to wake the sleeping victim by repeatedly grabbing her hair and then hitting her in the face "like he was swatting a fly". When a train conductor intervened, Harris drunkenly shouted "That's my item, that belongs to me, if I want to put my f***** hands on it, I will".
When the witness said "She's a human being", Harris responded "I'm from f**** Glasgow where we do what we want". Harris, of Overdale Gardens in Glasgow, was arrested but pleaded not guilty to assault by beating. He was convicted after trial and appeared back at the same court for sentencing this week.
Court details and sentencing
Prosecutor Christopher O'Brien said Harris and his partner were on the train from Carlisle to Newcastle on February 14 this year. Mr O'Brien said: "When the train got into Newcastle, [the victim] was asleep as she and the defendant had been drinking. He was standing over the top of her shouting and swearing at her. Shortly thereafter, the train conductor noticed the defendant using his hands to grab [the victim] by the hair and shake her by the hair."
"He then grabbed her by the face and shook her for a second or two longer. The defendant then grabbed her by the hair again and pulled it, causing her head to lift. He then struck her in the face with his hand as if swatting a fly. The conductor told him to get off the train."
Defending, John Brown said both Harris and his partner had been drinking Buckfast and vodka and she had not supported a prosecution. Mr Brown added: "They are still together and they live together. He was just trying to wake her up. He obviously went about it in the wrong fashion."
Judge's remarks and penalty
District Judge Paul Currer gave Harris a 12-month community payback order, the Scottish equivalent of a community order. The judge said: "Your behaviour was truly appalling. You were exceptionally drunk. She was barely conscious and you tried to rouse her by using the most appalling level of violence, which caused concern to all who observed it. It was disgraceful behaviour and you have shown no remorse."
Harris must also complete 100 hours of unpaid work and pay £600 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.
