Poplar man jailed for train baseball bat attack
Ian Young, Joe Lillington and Desmond Lillington - Credit: BTP
A man from Poplar has been jailed for his part in an attack with baseball bats on a crowded train.
Joe Lillington, 24, of Copenhagen Place, was on board a Liverpool Street to Enfield train with Ian Young at around 7pm on January 21 last year when they got into an argument with another passenger.
Lillington then phoned Desmond Lillington, and as the train arrived at Edmonton Green, he and Young pulled the emergency handle.
They then left the service to meet Desmond Lillington, who had arrived at the station with two baseball bats.
Blackfriars Crown Court heard how Young and Desmond Lillington smashed through the windows of the train before chasing their victim, who had been pointed out by Joe Lillington, through the crowded train.
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A woman with a pram was among the terrified passengers pushed aside as they ran after him, attacking him with the bats.
Joe Lillington was arrested at the station by an off-duty police officer. His two accomplices fled but were arrested later that month following an investigation.
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On Friday, Joe Lillington was jailed for three years after being found guilty of actual bodily harm.
He received another four months after pleading guilty to affray, and a further two months for an unrelated offence, all to be served consecutively.
Desmond Lillington, 37, of Eastbornia Avenue, Edmonton, and Ian Young, 24, of Stockton Road, Edmonton, were jailed for 31 months each for actual bodily harm and four months each for affray, to be served consecutively.
They pleaded guilty to both charges, as well as to criminal damage, for which they were jailed for two months each, to be served concurrently.
Speaking after sentencing, Chief Supt Paul Brogden said: “This was an appalling and truly shocking attack, leaving passengers and rail staff genuinely frightened for their lives.
“Any violent crime or disorder has no place on the railway, and the sentence handed down sends a clear message to would-be criminals that they will be made to pay for their actions.”