oot ! ya wee bawbag

[Mervyn2]

But was the lad fare dodging? Or was it a genuine mistake?

Steve

O it may well have been a genuine mistake yes, he might not have checked and noticed his incorrect second ticket before boarding, but the fact remains he didn't have a valid ticket. Now - regardless as to whether or not he'd checked the ticket before boarding the train - what I suspect the lad might have thought is that his explanation would have been enough for the conductor to see there'd been a genuine mistake and allowed him to continue his journey (a not unreasonable thought in my view), but then when this failed to work, his biggest "mistake" was to abuse the Conductor with language that might well have caused his removal from the train by itself.

I realise we're seeing only the later stages of the confrontation on the train in the video, but I feel it's entirely likely that at some earlier point the Conductor had offered the lad the chance to buy a valid ticket - it was his subsequent behaviour that saw the situation escalate towards an entirely avoidable course of events - events that might now see one man lose his job and another gain a criminal record.

[ayrshireman]

But was the lad fare dodging? Or was it a genuine mistake?

Steve

Oh Steve, come on, you are not THAT gullable.

[CaptainWaggett]

I've been on trains where I've genuinely thought I had the right ticket but in fact had bought one that could be used on that particular route or at that time. Even ticket sellers sometimes make mistakes, so complicated is the pricing structure on some lines nowadays. I once got a train from Paddington to Hereford where literally every single person in my (full)carriage was told by the ticket collector we had got the wrong tickets (there was nearly a riot and fortunately he'd decided to just let us off with a warning by the time he got to me). So yes, people can get the wrong ticket in good faith.

[Rowdon]

I've been on trains where I've genuinely thought I had the right ticket but in fact had bought one that could be used on that particular route or at that time. Even ticket sellers sometimes make mistakes, so complicated is the pricing structure on some lines nowadays. I once got a train from Paddington to Hereford where literally every single person in my (full)carriage was told by the ticket collector we had got the wrong tickets (there was nearly a riot and fortunately he'd decided to just let us off with a warning by the time he got to me). So yes, people can get the wrong ticket in good faith.

All true. But that wasn't what he was being thrown off for.

[CaptainWaggett]

All true. But that wasn't what he was being thrown off for.

No, but I was responding to Ayrshireman's suggestion that the young scallawag couldn't have made a genuine mistake

[ayrshireman]

Oh, people do, but if you actually read this little scrote's 'defence', it has more holes than swiss cheese.
If you honestly believe his story, pm me as I have some nice green cheese from the moon I'd like to offload before Christmas.

[ayrshireman]

Student thrown off train by 'Big Man' You Tube hero 'tried to trip up conductor'

Sam Main, thrown off train by 'Big Man' You Tube hero, 'tried to trip up conductor' | Mail Online

[Steve Crook]

Oh, people do, but if you actually read this little scrote's 'defence', it has more holes than swiss cheese.

Without knowing the full facts (the YouTube video starts part way through the discussion), all any reasonable person can do is not to take sides and say that either one is definitely right or definitely wrong but just say that there are elements of doubt

Steve

[Mervyn2]

Student thrown off train by 'Big Man' You Tube hero 'tried to trip up conductor'

Sam Main, thrown off train by 'Big Man' You Tube hero, 'tried to trip up conductor' | Mail Online

If the train's cctv footage does indeed show this, then I should imagine young Mr Main will have to think of another way to pay off his student loan...

[ayrshireman]

Without knowing the full facts (the YouTube video starts part way through the discussion), all any reasonable person can do is not to take sides and say that either one is definitely right or definitely wrong but just say that there are elements of doubt

Steve

Correct.

But young Mr Main's subsequent public 'defence' does not square with the public statement given by the man who took the footage nor what has been said by Scotrail or ferreted out by the newspapers. Frankly, on what everyone else has said, it looks to be a clear lie designed to elicit sympathy and deflect away from him.

I heard the 'footage man' on radio and he came as close as he could to calling Main a liar as he could constrained as he was by politeness.

[ShirlGirl]

The three of them are at fault. The bully for being a bully, the conductor for not handling the situation better (the bus company's fault? - no training?) and the kid for fare evasion.

[Mark O]

The three of them are at fault. The bully for being a bully, the conductor for not handling the situation better (the bus company's fault? - no training?) and the kid for fare evasion.

Yes, one of those 'six of one, half a dozen of the other' situations, 'Big man' is being prosecuted, maybe written cautions all round may of been better and just draw a line under the whole thing, the young lad didn't make any complaint, it was others who did.

'Big Man' who threw alleged fare dodger off train in hit internet video is charged with assault | Mail Online

[Moor Larkin]

maybe written cautions all round may of been better and just draw a line under the whole thing, the young lad didn't make any complaint, it was others who did.

I think his dad got the reet arriss over the whole thing, which isn't too surprising for a daddy. I daresay in years gone by, he'd have gone roond to the big man's hoose and had it oot wi' him on the pavement.......

But now we shall see the full majesty of yon Kilted Law.........

[christoph404]

I think his dad got the reet arriss over the whole thing, which isn't too surprising for a daddy. I daresay in years gone by, he'd have gone roond to the big man's hoose and had it oot wi' him on the pavement.......

But now we shall see the full majesty of yon Kilted Law.........

I didn't understand a single word of that Moor, that rather bonnie accent of yours threw me completely....

[sidney bliss]

Don't condone what the big man did but a verbal warning to all involved - or written one as previously stated in this thread - and move on. If this goes to court it will be just be a waste of time and money.

[ayrshireman]

'Scottish authorities have decided not to prosecute a passenger who removed an alleged fare dodger from a train.

A mobile phone recording by a passenger on board the Edinburgh to Perth train on 9 December was viewed around the world on YouTube.

It showed Alan Pollock - since dubbed "Big man" - throwing 19-year-old Sam Main off a train after he argued with a ticket inspector.
The Crown Office said it was not in the public interest to prosecute the pair.'

BBC News - 'Big man' video: No charges over passenger thrown off train



Hurray!.....common sense prevails at last. Prosecution of Mr Pollock should never have even been considered. Pity the little scrote got off, still with a mouth like his, he will push someone too far sometime and end up getting his clock well and truly cleaned.

[Rowdon]

Undoubtedly the right decision!

Prosecution of Mr Pollock should never have even been considered.

Can't agree with that. It should have been considered, it was considered, it was thrown out. I would hate things not even to be considered or investigated just because I agree with them.

Pity the little scrote got off.

That, I can agree with.

[christoph404]

So now that the precedent has been set we can expect Scot Rail to use violence and physical assault to remove passengers from trains when it feels like it, or if the train conductor is too old and unfit to do so himself he can get other passengers to do his dirty work, ....and they wont be prosecuted.....I'll have to remember that next time I visit Scotland and hope that I have the right ticket if I ever have the misfortune to find myself on a Scot Rail train, I hope I don't.

[captainhaddock]

or you could humbly admit your mistake if you have the wrong ticket and accept the small penalty fare
nobody got nasty or reacted heavy handidly because the lad had paid the wrong fare
he was manhandled off because he was holding up the whole train and using foul language