A man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for attempting to murder a fellow passenger by stabbing him with a broken bottle on a crowded intercity train. Thomas Craig, 48, attacked the victim on a Glasgow to Dundee service, striking him multiple times on the head with the bottle until it broke. He then turned his aggression towards the victim’s friend, inflicting serious injuries on both individuals.
During the trial at the High Court in Glasgow, it was revealed that the second victim suffered a severe wound near his heart and lost a significant amount of blood due to the attack. Craig was found guilty of endangering the first victim’s life and attempting to murder the second victim.
The sentencing judge, Lord Arthurson, imposed a 12-year jail term with an additional three years of supervision after release. CCTV footage released by British Transport Police showed the violent incident, capturing Craig’s brutal assault on the victims before changing clothes to evade detection.
Lord Arthurson condemned Craig’s actions, describing the attack as “appallingly violent” and emphasizing the right of the public to travel safely without fear. He commended the bravery of passengers who intervened to assist the victims, including a nurse who provided immediate aid on the train.
Following the incident near Larbert train station, police and paramedics responded swiftly to provide urgent medical attention to the victims. Craig, who had consumed alcohol and cocaine prior to the attack, expressed remorse through his legal representative, acknowledging the harm caused and the lasting impact on the victims.
Detective Inspector Marc Francey of BTP denounced Craig’s behavior as despicable and emphasized the serious consequences that could have resulted from his actions. He stressed the commitment to holding individuals like Craig accountable for violence on the railway and ensuring justice is served for the victims.
