A 78-YEAR-OLD train passenger was ordered to pay £250 after taking a short cut over a railway track to get to his platform instead of using the underpass which he said was "dirty and smelly".

Donald Sykes, of Park View, Skipton, then went on to assault a police officer and resist arrest.

Sykes, who appeared before Skipton magistrates this week, pleaded guilty to assaulting PC Leslie Moorhouse at the town's railway station, resisting arrest and trespassing on the railway line.

Sarah Tyrer, prosecuting, said all the charges arose from the same incident which happened at about 1pm on Tuesday August 11.

She said a driver in a stationary train witnessed Sykes go down a ramp at the north end of platform two, walk over the track and then up another ramp to platform three. It was later revealed this access onto the track was reserved for official personnel only.

Sykes was reported to a supervisor at the station, who confronted the defendant about the seriousness of his actions. Sykes replied there were no signs up saying he could not do what he did, and, when asked, refused to give staff any of his personal details.

The situation escalated when Sykes boarded the train to Settle. Staff refused to let the train leave the station until Sykes got off, at which point he became abusive and the police were called in.

PC Moorhouse told Sykes that unless he gave his personal details he would be arrested, and, when he refused once again, the pensioner was arrested.

But when the policeman tried to handcuff Sykes he "lashed out" and hit PC Moorhouse on the arm.

Mrs Tyrer added: "When he was handcuffed Mr Sykes lunged forward and bit PC Moorhouse on his right forearm."

Sykes was then "forcibly removed" from the train and station, and taken to Skipton Police Station for questioning.

In mitigation, Chris Lynch said there had been no suggestion that Sykes had stepped out in front of a moving train and when he had crossed the track, the train at platform two was at a complete standstill, with its doors open and passengers alighting.

He said that Sykes had not escaped unscathed from the incident and had received injuries to his wrists from the handcuffs.

Mr Lynch said: "He lashed out at the officer because he was in excruciating pain. The handcuffs were clamped tightly on his very thin wrists, so much so they were cutting into his bone."

Mr Lynch added that Sykes "demonstrated a degree of stubbornness of a proud man, and his pride would not let him concede the issue."

He continued that Sykes had never appeared in court before in his life and he wanted to apologise for his behaviour on that day.

For the assault charge, Sykes was fined £100 and ordered to pay £50 compensation to PC Moorhouse.

There was no separate penalty for the charge of resisting arrest, but Sykes was fined £50 for trespassing on the railway and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £50.

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