May 10th 2024.
A man named Stephen Weldon has caused quite a stir after physically attacking a train conductor and livestreaming the whole ordeal on social media. It all started when the conductor caught Weldon vaping on a crowded train and asked him to disembark. Without any provocation, Weldon launched a brutal attack on the conductor, dragging him out of the train and repeatedly punching and kicking him. What made the situation even more bizarre was the fact that Weldon decided to broadcast the attack for the world to see, ending the video with a profanity-laced statement.
Weldon appeared in court today, at the Ballymena Magistrates Court in Northern Ireland, where he continued to display aggressive and abusive behavior. He even berated District Judge Nigel Broderick when he refused to grant him bail, resulting in Weldon being taken away to the cells. The reason for Weldon's outburst stemmed from an incident on a train to Larne, where he was caught vaping and asked to get off at the Magheramourne halt, a few miles outside of the town. Despite initially appearing to end the conversation on good terms, Weldon suddenly turned violent when the conductor returned to hand him a charger for his vaping device.
The conductor was left with five chipped teeth, bruising, and abrasions after being kicked and punched by Weldon. He managed to escape and ran through the train, shouting for other passengers to call the police. Weldon was immediately arrested, and during the investigation, it was discovered that he had livestreamed the attack. The footage showed Weldon stomping on the victim's phone and work bag, while boasting about how the conductor had gotten what he deserved. He even said "good luck and God bless" to his viewers before ending the video with another round of expletives.
In later interviews, Weldon claimed that he "saw red" when the conductor told him he would have to walk 90 minutes to get to work. He feared that he would lose his job, which he had just started. Although he admitted to dragging the conductor off the train and striking him, Weldon denied causing any further harm. He even stated that the victim's "attitude wasn't right," justifying his violent actions. However, the detective on the case described Weldon's behavior as an attempt to assert himself as the "Alpha," showing the conductor "who was the big Alpha."
The injured conductor was fortunate to not have suffered a fractured jaw, but he did have five chipped teeth and other injuries. Despite Weldon's claims of innocence, Judge Broderick refused to grant him bail, citing the fact that he had made "full and frank admissions." The judge also highlighted the severity of the attack, which was unwarranted and terrifying for the victim, who was simply doing his job of providing public transport. Weldon's previous convictions for assault also played a role in the judge's decision to deny him bail.
Weldon's lawyer argued that he should be granted bail, as the charge of attempted grievous bodily harm may be reduced to actual bodily harm, which would likely not result in a jail sentence. However, the judge disagreed, stating that there was still a risk of further offenses and an immediate custodial sentence. He remanded Weldon into custody and adjourned the case until June 6. The judge also made a point to mention that if Weldon decided to appeal the decision, he wanted the High Court to be aware of his attitude and behavior.
The incident has caused concern for the safety of witnesses, but Weldon's lawyer argued that since he had made admissions, there was no cause for concern. With the job in Larne now lost, Weldon's lawyer also mentioned that he had no reason to be on a train, making it possible for him to be released on bail with certain conditions in place. However, the judge remained firm in his decision, stating that there was still a risk and that Weldon's attitude needed to be addressed. The case remains ongoing, and the consequences of Weldon's actions are yet to be determined.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
