A 56-YEAR-OLD man who had been making the same railway commute between Blackburn and Halifax for more than 30 years was racially abusive towards a member of station staff who asked him to go through a ticket check.

Blackburn magistrates heard Nigel Peter Eccles was well known to staff, who used his first name, and went round the barriers every day before exiting the station by the back entrance to where he parked his car.

Eccles, of Hillcrest Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated threatening behaviour. He was fined £350 and ordered to pay £50 compensation to Mohammed Javid, £85 costs and £30 victim surcharge.

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Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said Mr Javid was working at Blackburn Railway Station at about 5.30pm. He was standing at the bottom of the ramp leading from platform four where tickets were being checked.

"The staff were aware that the defendant went round the barriers every day and went to his car," said Miss Allan.

"On this occasion he was told he had to walk round and have his ticket checked. He became abusive and suggested to Mr Javid that he should go back to his own country."

Colleen Dickinson-Jones, defending, said Eccles had been working for Halifax Council for over 30 years and made the same railway journey every working day in that time.

"He arrives at the same time on that train every day and he is known to the railway staff," said Mrs Dickinson-Jones.

"He was frustrated at having to wait to have his ticket checked but accepts that is no excuse for the words he used."