'I just saw my tooth fly out my mouth': Conductor punched in the mouth by a fare dodger on Leeds to York train
Conductor punched in the mouth by fare dodger on Leeds to York train
A train conductor lost a tooth when a passenger punched him in the mouth - after he asked to see his ticket.
Peter Corley, 62, had asked Finley Seggie, 21, and his friend to get off the York-bound train at the next stop when they failed to provide tickets when he asked for them to inspect.
But Seggie verbally abused the conductor before approaching him and punching him in the mouth.
Peter lost his tooth, had £3,000 of dental treatment and had to leave his job following the incident on December 14, 2024.
Seggie later pleaded guilty to ABH and earlier this month was handed a 16 month suspended sentence at Leeds Crown Court.
Grandfather of one, Mr Corley, said: "It was very shocking.
"As a ticket inspector you know there are two per cent of passengers who would deck you, but I really didn't see it coming.
"I just remember watching my tooth fly out of my mouth.
"It happened so fast I had real difficulty processing it."
Mr Corley, who was a Lance Corporal in the army in the 1980s, had retired from his work as a custody inspector for West Yorkshire Police in 2015.
He was conducting the afternoon train from Leeds to York, on December 14, 2024.
He said the train had a good "pre-Christmas vibe" before he asked Seggie and his friend for their tickets.
The friend told him they didn't have one, before Seggie verbally abused him.
Mr Corley asked them to get off at East Garforth, the next station, and went to assist another passenger, and alerted the driver.
About the incident Mr Corley, who shared the story on Talk to the Press, said: "He grinned, then punched me, I fell back, and he ran.
"My glasses flew off, and as I bent to pick them up my knees just went from under me.
"People on the train were very shocked. I was covered in blood."
Seggie was arrested on February 18 after being identified from the CCTV and charged with ABH.
He claimed he had punched Mr Corley in self defence but later admitted the charge and was sentenced this month.