The messy case of strangers on a train

This week my town made national news, when a YouTube video of a ‘fare-dodger’ being ejected from a train onto our local platform went viral.

When it first came to public attention, the whole thing didn’t sit well with me.

Another passenger apparently intervened to throw this teenager off, resulting in applause and shouts of “Cheers, big man” by other travellers.

The first thing that struck me?

Assuming the worst about this lad – who was branded a ‘yob’ and a ‘ned’ by the Press – isn’t he the problem of the British Transport Police, who could have easily been called by train staff?

After all, he stands accused of not buying a ticket, and then swearing at the ticket inspector when told to get off.
No violence came from him. No threats. No weapons were produced.

He was sitting down when he was picked up by the scruff of the neck and found himself making friends with the pavement outside.
Since we didn’t know anything about him, how would anyone feel if their teenage son was roughed up like this?

As the mother of two boys, who will one day be teenagers, I felt there’d been an assumption this lad deserved everything he got – before we knew the background.

Yes, he swore. Possibly, he hadn’t paid for his journey. And as a parent I’d make my son apologise for any such behaviour.
But would I accept someone being violent to him?

As expected, the background slowly trickled out.

Sam Main, 19, claimed he had bought a ticket – but been given the wrong one. (Yeah, I know, this could be a likely story, who can tell?).
He’d been out drinking with friends to celebrate the end of an exam. So not exactly sober.
But more concerning is that he’s a diabetic who feared when he was manhandled off the train that he’d lose his bag, which had medication in it, along with his university course work, his mobile phone and his iPod.

Not only that, but he’s sporting a nasty graze on his face, having gone head first onto the tarmac.

He’s seen on YouTube trying to get back onto the train, but being repeatedly shoved back until another passenger throws his belongings off.

The ‘big man’ who took things into his own hands is Alan Pollock, 35, a financial manager. He’s portrayed as a gentle giant who became a have-a-go hero when he was ‘pushed to the limit’.

This case has split the public (with most heavily on Alan’s side).

Legal experts, and the rail company itself, are saying Alan was wrong. He has probably left himself open to prosecution for assault.
But many seem to think he has the moral high ground, since they’re so fed up with yobs terrorising the public and no-one doing a thing about it.

A newspaper columnist, who I happen to know and respect hugely, is less than sympathetic because young lads have thrown rocks at her car in the past. And she could have used a ‘hero’ like Alan to help bring these brats to justice.

Alan Pollock’s Dad says his son knows right from wrong, and “do you turn your face the other way when something has happened, if somebody got stabbed in the street?”

I’m sorry if I’m being thick here, but I can’t remember anything in Sam’s story about him threatening anyone’s property or life.
And it seems to me Alan acted because people were in fear of just one thing – being stuck on a train and late getting home.

My verdict?

Sam is a bit of a wise-mouthed brat who if sober might have known it was better to get his money out (because he did have some) and buy another ticket.

He’s no innocent victim, but he didn’t deserve anyone to put their hands on him. Getting hauled in by the British Transport Police should have been the shock he needed.

Alan is a well-meaning guy who has obviously refused to comment directly to the Press because he knows his actions aren’t without fault. A hero? Not exactly.

He wasn’t saving anyone’s life. Just saving himself some time and getting rid of a huge annoyance.

The villain of the piece?

Having watched the video a few times I’d say the ticket inspector should have known better.

By loudly proclaiming he “had all night” to wait for Sam to leave the train, he left other passengers fearing they’d be sitting for hours, waiting for this drama to conclude.

He created an atmosphere of desperation and took no decisive action.

Ultimately Alan asked him: “Do you want me to get him off for you?”

And he answered: “Yes”.

This messy drama might never have unfolded if he’d called for the proper authorities to sort it out.

Instead, a typical gobby teenager is being made a scapegoat for all the juvenile crime suffered in the UK.

And a well-meaning bystander is facing prosecution, for simply wanting to help.

What’s your verdict?

Posted by Donna

Tags: big man, Cheers, fare dodging, no ticket, Scotrail, strangers on a train