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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Man fell asleep on railway line | Man fell asleep on railway line |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A drunk man who passed out across railway tracks in the afternoon has been fined £560 and given 180 hours community service by magistrates. | A drunk man who passed out across railway tracks in the afternoon has been fined £560 and given 180 hours community service by magistrates. |
| Kevin Craswell, who used the track as a pillow and had his feet inches from the live rail at Epsom, was heard snoring. Neither a train or helicopter woke him. | Kevin Craswell, who used the track as a pillow and had his feet inches from the live rail at Epsom, was heard snoring. Neither a train or helicopter woke him. |
| Trains were disrupted and police filmed the former company director, 48, from a helicopter as he slept in March. | Trains were disrupted and police filmed the former company director, 48, from a helicopter as he slept in March. |
| Craswell, of Ashtead, Surrey, admitted obstructing the railway by neglect. | Craswell, of Ashtead, Surrey, admitted obstructing the railway by neglect. |
| Redhill magistrates heard a train was re-routed past Craswell's head, and he did not wake up. | Redhill magistrates heard a train was re-routed past Craswell's head, and he did not wake up. |
| When a helicopter hovered near him, he still did not come round. | When a helicopter hovered near him, he still did not come round. |
| 'No harm intended' | 'No harm intended' |
| The helicopter captured CCTV footage of the train being diverted to avoid hitting Craswell, who is now unemployed. | The helicopter captured CCTV footage of the train being diverted to avoid hitting Craswell, who is now unemployed. |
| He was taken to hospital after the incident, and it was found he had consumed a lethal amount of alcohol. | He was taken to hospital after the incident, and it was found he had consumed a lethal amount of alcohol. |
| The alcoholic had faced up to six months in prison when he appeared in court. | The alcoholic had faced up to six months in prison when he appeared in court. |
| But magistrate Ron Fewtrell said although he was aware of the potential risk to rail users, he did not believe Craswell intended to harm people. | But magistrate Ron Fewtrell said although he was aware of the potential risk to rail users, he did not believe Craswell intended to harm people. |
| I've never seen anything like it PC Keith Board | |
| Craswell told the court that he was ashamed of his conduct and deeply sorry. | Craswell told the court that he was ashamed of his conduct and deeply sorry. |
| The court heard staff had to switch off power and thousands of people on four routes were affected by delays. | The court heard staff had to switch off power and thousands of people on four routes were affected by delays. |
| Pc Keith Board, of British Transport Police, said: "I've never seen anything like it in all my years of policing. | Pc Keith Board, of British Transport Police, said: "I've never seen anything like it in all my years of policing. |
| "It was truly remarkable that he wasn't struck by a train or fatally electrocuted. | "It was truly remarkable that he wasn't struck by a train or fatally electrocuted. |
| "The position he collapsed in meant his feet were only a short distance from the live rail." | "The position he collapsed in meant his feet were only a short distance from the live rail." |
| Call for barriers | |
| He added: "In total, four railway lines were impacted, costing almost £8,000 in delays. | He added: "In total, four railway lines were impacted, costing almost £8,000 in delays. |
| "Trains had to stop running and the power was turned off so that police and emergency crews could safely get to him." | "Trains had to stop running and the power was turned off so that police and emergency crews could safely get to him." |
| After the hearing, Craswell's father, who declined to be named, said there should have been barriers to prevent his son from getting on to the railway line. | |
| Pc Graham Cottington said it was not practical to fence off every stretch of railway, and added emergency services needed to have access to the tracks. | |
| He said staff had been "astounded" at what happened, adding: "If he had touched that live rail, he would certainly have died." |