Blind Ipswich man pushed onto railway tracks at Chelmsford – Two Essex men jailed for ‘savage’ attack

Image shows moment Daniel Webster punches a man on the tracks at Chelmsford Railway Station (Image: Archant)

Two north Essex men have been jailed for a total of 31 months after an attack which saw a registered blind man and his brother thrown on railway tracks.

The 31-year-old victim from Ipswich, who is also profoundly deaf, was waiting on the platform at Chelmsford Station in the early hours of February 20 with his brother and a friend.

When he was attacked his brother, 28, came to his aid only to also be assaulted and thrown onto the track by Daniel Webster and attacked further when he tried to clamber to safety.

Webster, 23, then also threw the partially-sighted man onto the track and punched him in the face as he tried to climb back onto the platform.

Both victims were taken to hospital, where the partially-sighted man had surgery on a fractured foot.

Jailed for 22 months by judge at Chelmsford Crown Court after admitting grievous bodily harm and actual bodily harm after throwing a blind Ipswich man and his brother onto tracks at Chelmsford Railway Station (Image: Archant)

Webster, of Colchester Road, Coggeshall, admitted grievous bodily harm and actual bodily harm against both victims at Chelmsford Crown Court.

A second man, Niall Martin, 24 of Speedwell Road, Colchester, also admitted actual bodily harm against one of the victims.

The pair were sentenced to 22 months and nine months in jail respectively during a hearing yesterday.

The court was shown further footage of Webster and Martin attacking the brother on the platform.

Detective Constable Alan Reed, investigating officer for the British Transport Police, said: “This is one of the most appalling incidents I have investigated.

Jailed for nine months by judge at Chelmsford Crown Court after admitting actual bodily harm after throwing a man onto tracks at Chelmsford Railway Station (Image: Archant)

“Webster and Martin showed a savage disregard for their victims, and one of the brothers is still suffering from the injuries sustained to his foot.

“It is no exaggeration to say the brothers could have been killed after being thrown onto the tracks.

“I would like to pay tribute to the victims, who have shown great dignity following what was a terrifying ordeal for them.

“I hope today’s sentence will provide them with some sense of closure, although in truth, the impact this has had on both of them is likely to remain with them for the rest of their lives.”