Man jailed after being aggressive to staff on Manchester to Leeds train

Lakardi Zakaryia was removed from a Leeds bound train at Rochdale station

A 21-year-old man from Cambridgeshire has been jailed for 12 weeks after he assaulted a British Transport Police (BTP) officer and was drunk and disorderly in a public place.

Lakardi Zakaryia, from Leverington, Cambridgeshire, was on a train from Manchester to Leeds on Saturday 3 February when British Transport Police were called to meet the train at Rochdale station.

When a member of the train crew asked to see Zakaryia's ticket, he became very aggressive towards the member of staff and swore at her. After seeking assistance, Zakaryia once again became aggressive and swore at a second member of staff.

BTP officers attended the station at Rochdale, boarded the train and located Zakaryia. Officers clearly observed him to be under the influence of alcohol and proceeded to remove him from the train. While doing so, Zakaryia assaulted a police officer which left minor injuries.

Zakaryia pleaded guilty to both charges and was sentenced at Ashton Under Lyne Magistrate’s Court on Monday 5 February.

Investigating officer PC Steven Martin said: "Violence of any kind will simply not be tolerated on the rail network. What happened was totally unacceptable on every level and take the abuse of railway staff extremely seriously; no one should be subjected to this in their workplace.

"Zakaryia went from doing the crime to doing time within two days. I hope his swift arrest, charge and imprisonment sends a clear message that we will do everything in our power to stop offenders like this and keep the railway safe.”