Yobs lobbed concrete slab at train

A 15-year-old yob laid wire cables in the path of a packed Manchester Victoria to Rochdale train, and just one day later, gave passengers another close shave when the tearaways threw a slab of concrete at the Manchester Victoria to Rochdale at 7.07pm, has been slapped with a six month detention and training order.

The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will spend three months in a youth detention centre and a further three months under supervision and training, after pleading guilty to endangering safety at Oldham Youth Court.

Two other teen thugs, aged 14 and 16, were also arrested in connection with the incidents.

The 14-year-old received a youth reprimand, while the 16-year-old was given a warning.
Passengers were lucky to avoid serious injury when the youths went on a wrecking spree in December.

A number of trains were forced out of service after the trio targeted the tracks around Derker station. In the first incident the Manchester Victoria to Rochdale train was disabled after becoming entangled in steel cable tied to the tracks.

Earlier, a train had to be taken out of service at Victoria after colliding with a shopping trolley, which the youths had pushed onto the line.

The group were finally caught during a sting operation on December 6, after police saw them throwing a sofa at a passing train.

Inspector Glen Alderson, of the British Transport Police, said: “Any of the incidents had the potential to derail the train, putting passengers and rail staff’s lives at risk.”