The 28-year-old made the attempt after a relationship breakdown with the child’s mother
Frederick Danquah(Image: British Transport Police)
A suicidal man who attempted to murder a two-year-old boy by walking in front of a train while carrying the child has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Frederick Danquah, 28, stepped in front of a moving train after a relationship breakdown with the child’s mother.
Both the child and Danquah were injured in the incident at Garrowhill railway station in Glasgow’s east end on July 2, 2023.
Danquah denied attempted murder and another charge of culpable and reckless conduct, regarding another incident on the same date, stating his mental condition as a defence.
He was convicted by a jury at the High Court in Scotland last month.
At the same court on Wednesday, the judge said the harm caused by Danquah was “of the greatest kind” and sentenced him to 10 years in prison.
He also imposed a non-harassment order which will remain in place until the child is 18.
The court heard that earlier on the day of the offence, Danquah tried to climb over a footbridge above the M8 in Glasgow with the child on his shoulders.
His actions came just hours after an argument with his ex-partner who told him she had “moved on”.
After posting a suicidal message on Facebook, he prepared a “contingency plan” which included a note with contact details, the court heard.
Danquah collected the child from relatives and took him into Glasgow city centre where he met his sister’s partner, before he attempted to climb the bridge over the M8.
He was spotted by police but “reassured them”, the court heard, before he travelled to Garrowhill station with the child and made an attempt on their lives.
British Transport Police said Danquah sustained a broken jaw and fracture to his neck, while the child suffered cuts and bruises but no serious injuries.
The toddler was discharged from hospital two days later.
Sentencing, Judge Tony Kelly said: “To seek to take the life… over some hours is great criminality. I have no doubt about your intentions.”
He said a train driver “saw you step in the path of a train” and people involved in the rescue were in “various stages of upset”.
The court heard Danquah had no previous convictions and was involved in a Ghanaian community group.
Defending, Gary Allan said it was a “horrible miracle” that both Danquah and the child survived.
He added that his client was receiving psychiatric help since a “one-off horror story took place at his own hand”.
Mr Allan said Danquah had been “beaten up by other prisoners”, and jail “will be a living nightmare for him”.