10-05-2025
Powys train fight man charged with Victorian era offence
A Mid Wales man has been sentenced under a Victorian era law after his actions led to a train being stopped in Welshpool.
Anatolijs Zurba pleaded guilty to obstructing a train using the railway after he was involved in a fight on the Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth service on the afternoon of January 25, this year.
Magistrates sitting in Welshpool today (Tuesday, May 6) were told that the offence comes under the Malicious Damage Act of 1861 and is rarely seen in courts, and at one time would have been punishable with hard labour.
Helen Tench, prosecuting, explained that Zurba had been drinking with a friend in Shrewsbury that day and was on the train home when he got into an argument and struck his friend.
She said train staff chose to halt the train for safety reasons at Welshpool Railway Station and Zurba was restrained by passengers before being arrested and handed over to British Transport Police.
Ms Tench continued: "The victim of the assault didn't wish to take any further action.
"In interview, he [Zurba] said he had been drinking that day and had had two bottles of spirits.
"He was asked if he was aware of the 30-minute delay he had caused and he said 'I am now', and he said he was 'sorry', for his actions."
Ms Tench added that an application for £3,764 compensation had been made by Network Rail after the train was only able to continue to Machynlleth - missing out four stops, including the end of the line at Aberystwyth - due to the delay at Welshpool.
She continued: "This caused disruption to a lot of people."
Rob Hanratty, defending, explained that by the time reached Machynlleth it was 38 minutes behind schedule.
He continued: "My client went to Shrewsbury with his friend, and they both got a bit lairy on the train home.
"He very much apologises for his behavior. He had drunk for a significant amount of the day in question.
"When he was arrested, he co-operated with the police and he admitted it."
Zurba, 35, of Cambrian Street in Aberystwyth, was given a six-month community order, which means he must stay out of trouble during that time, and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £26 victim surcharge.
They added that no compensation would be given to Network Rail as they failed to include a breakdown of how they had reached the amount they requested.
