A violent attacker who tried to murder a fellow passenger with a broken Buckfast bottle on a busy intercity train has been sentenced to 12 years in prison.
A Frenzied and Bloody Onslaught
Thomas Craig, 48, launched an unprovoked assault on a stranger aboard a Glasgow to Dundee service on February 16 last year. The High Court in Glasgow heard how Craig chased the man down the carriage, striking him on the head with the fortified wine bottle until it shattered.
When a second passenger, a friend of the first victim, courageously intervened to help, Craig turned on him. He stabbed this Good Samaritan in the head and chest with the broken glass, causing catastrophic injuries that led to the loss of more than two litres of blood.
Court Hears Chilling Details and Passengers' Bravery
During the trial in November, chilling CCTV footage was shown to the court. It depicted Craig running down the train carriage and raising his arm to attack. In a calculated move after the violence, he was seen changing from a blood-stained hoodie into a clean one.
Sentencing Craig at the High Court, Lord Arthurson described the attack on the second man as ‘wholly murderous’. He praised the bravery of the intervening friend and other passengers who rushed to aid the victims, including a nurse who provided crucial medical assistance on board.
The court was told that both victims were in their early twenties at the time. Craig had been drinking alcohol for several hours and had also taken cocaine prior to the random attack.
Extended Sentence Handed Down
Craig was found guilty of assaulting the first man and the attempted murder of the second. Lord Arthurson imposed an extended sentence of 12 years imprisonment, with a further three years of supervision upon his release.
In mitigation, defence counsel Tony Graham KC said there was little he could say but noted Craig's long-term struggles with drug and alcohol addiction and his expressed remorse. He stated Craig recognised the ‘potentially devastating consequences’ of his actions, which were luckily averted.
This case highlights the severe repercussions of violent crime on public transport and the commendable actions of ordinary citizens who step in to help during terrifying incidents.
