Smiling and ticketless thug knocked out Leeds rail conductor's tooth with single punch
A smiling thug who punched a rail conductor, knocking out a tooth, has been given a chance by a judge to keep his freedom.
Finley Seggie grinned at the Northern worker before striking him on the York-bound train from Leeds, simply because he asked to see his ticket.
But the judge at Leeds Crown Court told the 21-year-old that if he completes an unpaid work order from a previous violent altercation, he will not lock him up.
Judge Ray Singh said he initially considered locking Seggie up for 16 months, but said: “If all of that work is done and you keep every appointment, I won’t lock you up. Even if you are ill, you drag yourself there.
“I will keep my promise.”
He also told him to bring £1,500 for compensation for the victim for his sentencing hearing in three months’ time.
The court heard that on the afternoon of December 14, 2024, the rail worker was making his way through the carriage of the train and approached Seggie and his friend to check their tickets.
The friend told the conductor: “We haven’t gone none (sic), so don’t f****** ask.”
Seggie then verbally abused the worker. One elderly woman was too afraid to get off the train at her stop, prosecutor John Hobley said.
Seggie then boasted to his pal: “I’ve sparked one of these c**** before,” suggesting he had punched a rail worker previously.
The pair were asked to get off the train when it stopped at East Garforth. Seggie, who was seen smiling, approached the conductor before punching him to the mouth.
The worker’s glasses were knocked off and he lost his tooth. Passengers came to the shaken worker as Seggie and his friend got off the train.
The worker needed treatment at A&E and required a dental bridge.
Seggie was arrested on February 18 last year after being identified from the train’s CCTV.
During his interview he accepted punching the man but claimed it was in self defence.
Seggie, of Hansby Grange, Seacroft, later admitted a charge of ABH, but only on the day he was due to stand trial at Leeds Magistrates’ Court.
He also admitted breach of a community order by failing to attend an unpaid work appointment.
He has 11 previous convictions for 16 offences, including an attack on a customer in a supermarket in Garforth.
Seggie was only 16 at the time and was given the community order with unpaid work to complete.
Mitigating for his latest offence, Giles Grant said there had been a four-year gap in his offending.
The court heard that his mother had been an alcoholic and Seggie was forced to look after his sister.
However, he said his mother is now sober after rehabilitation, and that Seggie was now working as a heating engineer.
Judge Singh deferred sentence until May 5.