A man has been jailed after pushing another man onto railway tracks and stamping on a second man’s head, following a British Transport Police investigation.
Lewis Clifford, 38, of Whitwell Common, Worksop, pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm and was sentenced at Mansfield Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 8 January, to eight months’ imprisonment. He also received a six-year Football Banning Order.
The court heard how, just before 8 pm on Saturday, 16 September 2023, Clifford was at Retford railway station with his family, having returned from an away football game between Tottenham and Sheffield United.
Clifford was wearing a Sheffield United football shirt, and three members of the public at the station engaged Clifford in banter over the shirt. This became heated, and an argument ensued.
Clifford struck one of the victims on the head, knocking him onto the live tracks. As the victim tried to get off the tracks, a high-speed train passed through on the line only a few metres behind him.
Clifford then punched one of the other victims in the head before punching the third man to the floor. The third man hit his head on a metal post and appeared to fall unconscious.
Clifford then ran over and stamped on the back of the unconscious man’s head while he was lying face down on the platform. Clifford then left the station with his family and headed into Retford.
A CCTV appeal was sent out to the press and public featuring an image of Clifford following the incident, and he was identified. Clifford was interviewed and later charged.
Investigating officer DC Lee Walker said: “I am pleased with the result in this case. Clifford acted recklessly and violently and was lucky his actions did not result in any deaths.
“The prison sentence and banning order should serve as a reminder to anyone, football fan or not, that acts of violence towards others on the railway network will not be tolerated.”