'Stop this madness', they pleaded as he rained down punches on an innocent man - screaming 'I'll f*****g murder you'
A belligerent thug launched a vicious attack on a fellow-train passenger after being told to keep it down. Michael Ovenden, 43, later claimed he 'hadn't been in a fight since primary school'.
The court earlier heard, Ovenden, from Staffordshire, was on the 10.07pm train from Manchester Birmingham - following a day working and drinks - when Mr Dean asked him to keep his voice down. Ovenden appeared to have been arguing on the phone. "I will f****** kill you," he screamed as Mr Dean and the train manager lay on the floor. Ovenden went back for more 'repeatedly' hitting Mr Dean with 'powerful blows'.
Mr Dean read a statement to the court, saying he appeared in person so Ovenden could 'can see and hear the impact his actions had on entirely innocent members of the public'. He said that before the incident, he was making plans for walking holidays with his wife as he was approaching retirement. "It's played out repeatedly in my head.... if I had not been strong, or the train manager was on their own with him. I managed to pin him down, despite my age. He had no qualms about punching me. I have no doubt it would have continued to escalate if I was unconscious.
The train manager, the court heard, was off sick for six months and is still unable to be alone on late-night trains. "I am fearful it will happen again," she said.
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