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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Man fell asleep on railway line | Man fell asleep on railway line |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A drunk man who passed out across railway tracks has been fined £560 and given 180 hours community service. | A drunk man who passed out across railway tracks has been fined £560 and given 180 hours community service. |
| Kevin Craswell used the track as a pillow and had his feet inches from the live rail at Epsom, Surrey. | Kevin Craswell used the track as a pillow and had his feet inches from the live rail at Epsom, Surrey. |
| 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. |
| Neither the sound of the helicopter nor passing trains could wake Craswell, of Ashtead, Surrey, who admitted obstructing the railway by neglect. | Neither the sound of the helicopter nor passing trains could wake Craswell, of Ashtead, Surrey, who admitted obstructing the railway by neglect. |
| Redhill magistrates heard a train went past Craswell's head, but he did not wake up. | Redhill magistrates heard a train went past Craswell's head, but he did not wake up. |
| 'No harm intended' | 'No harm intended' |
| Craswell was taken to hospital after the incident on 3 March, and it was found he had consumed a potentially lethal amount of alcohol and was suffering from hypothermia. | |
| He had faced up to six months in prison when he appeared in court. | He 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 | I've never seen anything like it PC Keith Board |
| Craswell, now a recovering alcoholic who lives with his elderly parents, told the court he was ashamed of his conduct and deeply sorry. | Craswell, now a recovering alcoholic who lives with his elderly parents, told the court he was ashamed of his conduct and deeply sorry. |
| Defending, Philip Longes, said Craswell had no memory of what happened. | Defending, Philip Longes, said Craswell had no memory of what happened. |
| 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 | 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. | 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. | 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." | He said staff had been "astounded" at what happened, adding: "If he had touched that live rail, he would certainly have died." |