January 6, 2015 3.20 pm This story is over 110 months old

Violent attack on Lincoln train by group wearing Christmas jumpers

Double train assault: Two young men have been violently assaulted by a group of men wearing Christmas jumpers on a train between Lincoln and Grimsby.

Two young men have been violently assaulted by a group of men wearing Christmas jumpers on a train between Lincoln and Grimsby.

The incident happened between 6.35pm and 7.20pm on Saturday, December 20, on board the last train from Lincoln to Grimsby.

British Transport Police say a group of men aged between 20 and 25 years old, most of them wearing Christmas jumpers, were travelling on the train when one of them punched another man in the head, which knocked him unconscious.

The man had boarded the train at Lincoln and was wearing a green Christmas jumper.

Investigating officer PC Racheal Croft said: “The attacker continued to punch the victim while he was lying unconscious until the victim’s friend attempted to pull him away. As he did so, the same man punched him on the side of his head, before another person in the same group hit him to the back of his head.

“The group then dispersed with the attacker swapping jumpers with another man who had been wearing a red Christmas jumper. Later in the journey the offender then changed this jumper to a white top.

“This was a particularly nasty and unprovoked assault in the run up to Christmas, which could have proved far worse had the victim’s friend not intervened, who was then himself assaulted.

“It happened on a packed train so we are confident there will be passengers who witnessed what happened and we urge them to come forward to assist with our enquiries and help find those responsible.

“Everyone has the right to travel without fear and violence like this will simply not be tolerated. We will make every effort to track down the men responsible.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact British Transport Police on 0800 405040, or text 61016, quoting reference PSUB/B4 of January 6, 2015.

Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity, Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.