Man jailed for headbutting rail worker and biting police radio
The attack happened at Portsmouth and Southsea railway station
A 28-year-old man who stumbled into a Hampshire rail station with a crate of beer and headbutted a member of rail staff has been jailed for two years.
Bernard Hartnett, of Challis Court, Southampton, pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm without intent and criminal damage.
He was due to attend court on 14 April for sentencing but failed to appear.
Following an arrest warrant issued by the court, he was tracked down and attended Portsmouth Crown Court where a judge sentenced him to two years imprisonment.
At just before 9am on 8 August 2021, rail staff observed Hartnett enter Portsmouth and Southsea railway station appearing unsteady on his feet and carrying a crate of Budweiser.
The court heard that a member of staff approached him and advised that he couldn’t travel in his intoxicated state, to which Hartnett replied, "it’s not *** fair."
Hartnett became increasingly aggressive towards the staff member before headbutting him on the nose.
He then grabbed hold of the victim and began pushing him towards the platform edge, causing the staff member’s knee to collapse as he fell to the floor.
As the victim lay on the platform Hartnett attempted to punch him before other members of rail staff rushed over and restrained Hartnett.
Police officers arrested Hartnett, who began to struggle as they led him away.
As they did so, he bit into one of their police radios and refused to release it – when the radio was eventually freed, part of it had snapped off leaving its internal wires hanging from Hartnett’s mouth.
The member of staff was taken to hospital where he underwent surgery for a ruptured tendon in his knee.
He was required to wear a supportive leg brace for three months following the attack.
Detective Constable Phil James, investigating officer in the case, said: "Put simply, Hartnett’s actions that morning were appalling.
"No one should go to work and be subjected to violence or intimidation."