Drunk thug who ‘relentlessly’ attacked train passengers with glass bottle learns fate

Boozed-up Thomas Craig, 48, launched a sickening attack on passengers striking one man twice to the head with a glass bottle before repeatedly punching another as he tried to help

A brute who assaulted two men with a glass bottle on a train in horror scenes captured on CCTV has been jailed for 12 years. Thomas Craig, 48, of Walton Street in East Renfrewshire, was convicted following a four-day trial at Glasgow High Court. He was found guilty of attempted murder and serious assault, as a result of a British Transport Police (BTP) investigation.

The court was told that on 16 February 2024, Craig, under the influence of alcohol, was on a train from Glasgow Queen Street to Perth when he struck up a conversation with other passengers seated across the aisle. Within 10 minutes, he hurled an insult at one man before suddenly launching a vicious attack, leaping from his seat to strike the victim twice over the head with a glass bottle.

The victim fled through the train carriage, but Craig chased him, relentlessly battering him with the bottle until it shattered, leaving Craig clutching the jagged neck of the bottle. When the victim’s mate tried to step in, Craig turned on him, landing seven punches before stabbing him twice in the chest with the broken bottle.

Craig then casually returned to his seat, tossing the bottle neck towards where the victims had been sitting. He swiped one of the victims’ mobiles and stashed it away.

He then strolled down the train, shedding his blood-stained jumper and swapping it for a clean hoodie from his bag.

Police and paramedics rushed to meet the train at Larbert railway station where both casualties received emergency treatment for their wounds before being rushed to hospital, whilst Craig was detained on board by officers.

The second casualty’s injuries were so catastrophic that he required intensive care treatment.

The casualty had sustained a knife wound perilously close to his heart, a punctured lung, and a severed artery which caused him to lose approximately 15% of his blood.

Lord Arthurson handed him an extended sentence comprising 12 years behind bars and three years of supervision upon release when he returned to the court for sentencing on Monday.

He said: “On a busy train you launched an appallingly violent attack on two men who were complete strangers to you. Members of the public have every right to be able to travel on public transport safely and without fear.”

Describing the incident, which happened near Larbert train station, he said: “You ran towards your first victim striking him on the neck with the bottle.

“The second man courageously came to the assistance of his friend.”

Lord Arthurson described the assault on the second man as “a wholly murderous attack.”

He also praised other passengers who came to the aid of Craig’s victims including a nurse who helped on board.

The court heard that the two victims were in their early twenties at the time of the incident.

Police and paramedics met the Glasgow Queen Street to Dundee train at Larbert railway station, where both victims were given urgent treatment and taken to hospital.

Craig had been drinking alcohol for several hours and had also taken cocaine before the attack, the court was told.

Tony Graham KC, representing Craig, said there was nothing he could say in mitigation but said he is a man who has struggled with drug and alcohol addiction and feels remorse over the incident.

He said: “He understands the damage he has done, he understands the suffering he has caused and he understands that those short moments on that train will live with and probably haunt forever his victims.”

He added: “This is a man who recognises he has done wrong. This is a man who recognises the potentially devastating consequences, averted in this case.”

BTP Detective Inspector Marc Francey previously said: “Craig acted in a truly despicable manner, violently and relentlessly attacking two men over a minor disagreement and causing countless passengers on the train to panic.

“His indiscriminate and thuggish actions could have resulted in far more severe consequences, both for his victims and for himself.

“It is thanks only to luck and to the lifesaving work of the paramedics that Craig hasn’t been found guilty of something far worse.”

He added: “Violence on the railway is utterly unacceptable and we will relentlessly pursue offenders like Craig to ensure they face justice.”