A man who allegedly kicked and punched a train conductor about the head after being ejected for vaping wanted to show he was “the alpha male”, the High Court heard.
Prosecutors said Stephen Weldon, 34, chipped five of the victim’s teeth and then filmed the aftermath of the attack to post on his Facebook page.
As the injured conductor urged other passengers to contact police, Weldon responded by telling them he had been “acting tough and got his ass whooped”.
The defendant, of Inniscarn Drive in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, was refused bail.
He faces charges of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent, and two counts of criminal damage over the incident onboard the Belfast to Larne service at around 9am on May 8.
The court heard Weldon was asked to leave after the Translink employee observed him vaping, getting off at the Magheramourne halt.
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As the train made its return journey, the victim realised he had left a charger behind and stepped off at the same platform to return it to him.
Weldon then launched a series of blows, according to the prosecution, knocking the conductor against the doors of the train and dragging him back out onto the platform.
“He punched and kicked him around the face and head, striking him six or seven times with fist and foot,” a Crown lawyer said.
At that point the victim got to his feet and ran, shouting for passengers to call the police, while Weldon began to record the incident on his phone.
As he walked up the train the defendant allegedly declared: “Hello folks, sorry for the hold up.
“The guy running the train was acting tough and got his ass whooped. Hope you have a good day. God bless.”
Weldon also filmed himself kicking the conductor’s money bag and stamping on his phone, with the court told that he posted the livestream on his Facebook account.
The victim was taken to hospital amid initial suspicions he had suffered a broken jaw.
It was confirmed that his injuries included five chipped teeth, a swollen head and jaw, and bruising to his calf and arm.
During police interviews Weldon said he had been travelling to a new job in Larne, explaining that it was only his second day and he feared being late.
He claimed the conductor told him it would be a 15-minute walk but then “saw red” and punched and kicked him twice to the ribs.
Prosecution counsel added: “He said the victim’s attitude wasn’t right, that he was trying to be alpha so he showed him who was the alpha male.”
Weldon has made full admissions to carrying out the assault, the court heard.
His lawyer described it as a “despicable” incident triggered by concerns that he was going to be sacked from his new employment for being late.
“He had resigned himself to losing his job on day two and appears to have taken it as some sort of potential mocking when told he could still walk it,” the barrister said.
“He realised it wasn’t possible and in that context he saw red.”
It was stressed that Weldon only filmed the aftermath of the assault on the conductor.
Denying bail, however, Mr Justice Kinney ruled that he poses a risk to the public .
The judge stated: “This was an episode of unprovoked and spontaneous violence.”
by Portal_Jumper125
35 comments
Throw the book at this cunt
You know your trial’s gonna go well when your own defence calls you despicable
“Alpha male” cucked by the law
Still struggling to grasp why anyone would give this nutjob a job in the first place. The state of him.
9am and scrapping with the train driver good lord
I know you shouldn’t judge people by appearances.
But he looks exactly the ballbag type alright.
The PPS should have him charged with impersonating a Tate brother 😅
The scrote will probably only get 18 months.
Feral piece of shit. Useless.
The cycle of an alpha male
1: Exist
2: Show ‘the haters’ whose boss
3: Upload to Social Media (Based and Redpilled)
4: Get arrested for cockery
Alpha dickhead more like. What a complete cunt
wonder if being bummed in Jail will make him more “Alpha” or less “Alpha”
He’s just misunderstood so he is, our wee Stephen wouldn’t hurt a fly like
😂😂 wee gimp
Why did the solicitor even use that defense would you not tell your client ‘mate you’re going to sound like a fucking idiot’
What an absolute waste of skin.
Lock him up, see how alpha he is inside.
This man is a tosser
I grew up on Inniscarn Drive, glad I don’t live anywhere near it now with scumbags like that knocking around. Doubt he could even hold a job down for any extended period of time anyway.
Attempted murder.. Fuck this guy.
34 years old, jesus fucking wept. He’d getting on like a 16 year old hopped up on Andrew Tate videos and cocaine.
Looks like the tattoo ink has entered his brain
dont go to the utub and put his name in, or type bare knuckle pit, you’ll just misunderstand
What a stupid cunt.
Attempted murder, go straight to jail, do not pass go, see you in 10 years. Easy this judge lark. FFS he provided the evidence haha, he obviously wants to go to prison
He’s going to say the wrong thing to the wrong person in Maghaberry and be very very sorry for it, I reckon.
Shite hair
the sorta cunt that owns a Bully XL
Alpha male is a myth according to the wolf guy that came up with the theory.
Is someone with misunderstood tattooed across their head probably not pretty well understood?
What a fucking wanker, imagine giving larne a bad name, totally out of order,🤣
Fellas like this shouldnt be allowed out again, hes a fuckin moron of the highest order with the mind of a fuckin infant who happens to be able to fight.
This is the kind of lad who would get drunk, not handle a harmless comment and go on a full fucking rampage to prove a point. The exact same point 6 of my infant nephews and nieces would all claim. ”He said something i didnt like”
Judge should add 5 years for fuckin Alpha Male comment right there
Let’s see how that pans out in jail.
I’m reminded of a Game of Thrones line here since he declares himself an “Alpha male”.
It’s what Lord Tywin says to Joffrey in S3 Ep 10
“*Any man who must say, “I am the king” is no true king.*”
Looks like a Temu Sinead O’Connor