Teacher fined for disturbance on train journey
An Inverness teacher who walked on the rail tracks after drinking has been fined £1040 for shouting abuse at a conductor.
Good to see a proportionate fine for a change.
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Incident at Dalcross Station (25/10/25)
- Thread starter Doombar
- Start date
Good to see a proportionate fine for a change.
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Stathern Jc
Member
Until I read the article properly I was wondering where he could have had such a night out in the vicinity of Inverness Airport Station. Tornagrain? Doubt it!
No sympathy with this character.
Happily neither had the Sheriff.
“…fined £1040 for shouting abuse at a conductor”
I suspect a large proportion of that was actually for trespassing on the railway.
Sadly, the police putting intoxicated people on a train is all too common in my experience. If they’re going to do that, maybe they should accompany them? (I know that’s not practical of course).
I suspect a large proportion of that was actually for trespassing on the railway.
Sadly, the police putting intoxicated people on a train is all too common in my experience. If they’re going to do that, maybe they should accompany them? (I know that’s not practical of course).
Given that the police removing intoxicated people from a train is probably just as common, it does seem a bit circular.
Stathern Jc
Member
Last summer I did Jury Service on a trial presided over by the Sheriff named in the report on this case.
She was very polite, yet firm and businesslike, and clearly not likely to take any nonsense.
And she obviously didn't have much time for this sort of nonsense from someone who should have been setting a far better example to the young people of the area.
I was very impressed, then and now.
I wonder if this character will get a new nickname in the playground?
I'll resist any temptation to start the ball rolling, I'm sure there will be inventive minds where he teaches.
Gloster
Veteran Member
I suspect he may well be facing disciplinary action from the General Teaching Council for Scotland. Not necessarily permanent barring, but quite possibly a temporary suspension.
Likewise from whichever local council's education authority employs him.
Before judging a person, maybe have a thought in how the situation occurred? Calling for the man's job and livelihood because he got too drunk is a wee bit OTT.
We all have been in a situation where we have been somewhat ashamed and if you haven't, you've never really lived.
Ok, he went a bit loopy because of too much of the fun juice but the embarrassment of being up in Court should be enough for him to realise he is either an educator or a complete numpty who can then fight for his job.
The safety of rail staff is paramount to this story and I will always defend them first and foremost but there is always more to it than banner headlines.
We all have been in a situation where we have been somewhat ashamed and if you haven't, you've never really lived.
Ok, he went a bit loopy because of too much of the fun juice but the embarrassment of being up in Court should be enough for him to realise he is either an educator or a complete numpty who can then fight for his job.
The safety of rail staff is paramount to this story and I will always defend them first and foremost but there is always more to it than banner headlines.
The outcome could have been even worse, of course…
“The driver of the oncoming train saw the accused on the track, directly in the path of this oncoming train. He applied the emergency brakes and the train came to a stop.”
I blame the Police for putting him on the train, the man could have been easily killed whilst trespassing.
Not even the Police realises how dangerous it can be around the railway whilst intoxicated.
They just decided for the easiest fixing.
Not even the Police realises how dangerous it can be around the railway whilst intoxicated.
They just decided for the easiest fixing.
I think you are correct. Nairn on a Saturday night would have 4 Police constables on duty. If they were to detain anyone they would have to take them to the Police station in Inverness which would tie up 2 PC's for at least 90 minutes. I wonder if the BTS and Police Scotland will be having a discussion regarding the matter.
If the police arrested and carted away every passenger who gets kicked off of a train on a Saturday night there wouldn’t be enough cell space! A quiet word and a cool-off followed by the next train home is a pretty standard response, and as much as it’s understandably not universally popular, it is probably the most pragmatic way ahead in most cases. Sometimes that approach backfires, but it won’t necessarily be the wrong approach at the time the decision is made.
Gloster
Veteran Member
I don’t think anybody here is calling for the man’s job and livelihood. It is just making the observation that someone in his job is expected to display high standards and that the incident is likely to be seen by the regulating authorities as sufficiently serious to warrant a hearing that will, quite likely, result in some form of disciplinary action.
greatkingrat
Established Member
- Joined
- 20 Jan 2011
- Messages
- 3,289
And if you don't let him travel, he might have been hit by a car outside the station. There's no magic answer, all you are doing is moving the problem from one place to another.
MoominAndChips
Member
If he came straight from the drinking to the station, he would likely still have been getting drunker. That "cool-off", instead of just throwing him on the first train and offloading the problem, might have swung the decision in favour of nicking him rather than putting him on the following train. But that would, as you say, be pragmatic, and we can't allow that sort of thing!
Islineclear3_1
Established Member
If this gets as far as a disciplinary meeting with the General Teaching Council for Scotland, they will need to decide whether this man's actions has brought the profession into disrepute. It does not matter if his actions occurred outside of work.
It may also depend of course, whether the female conductor or the police wish to take further action; i.e., report him to his professional body - unless the courts do that automatically(?)
I assume he did not have a ticket.
When does this conviction get spent (if this is the first one of course)?
It may also depend of course, whether the female conductor or the police wish to take further action; i.e., report him to his professional body - unless the courts do that automatically(?)
I assume he did not have a ticket.
When does this conviction get spent (if this is the first one of course)?
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Stathern Jc
Member
Agreed.
What we don't know, and is none of the business of any of us here, is whether there have been any previous incidents of behaviour beyond "high spirits".
If there is prior form, and this is the first occasion to attract adverse publicity so best not to speculate specifically, then I think it is likely that both a professional body and the employer (The Highland Council, unless he commutes to Forres or beyond) may be interested in "having a discussion" of some sort now the Court case has been heard.
An interesting point, and I have no idea, but don't think having to declare it will go in his favour should he see himself as suitable to apply for a promoted post in the next few years.
BrummieBobby
Member
I blame the individual in question for not being able to hold his beer...
One year, though whether it is spent or not is not relevant in his role as a teacher; he will need to disclose it anyway even after it is spent.