Good Samaritan is beaten unconscious by train teenagers
Police are today hunting a violent teenage gang after a commuter was kicked unconscious when he came to the aid of a woman being assaulted.
The brave 43-year-old civil servant stepped in to help after the group hurled a traffic cone at the passenger, hitting her on the head.
As the Good Samaritan checked if she was all right he was confronted by one of the group and was set upon by the eight-strong mob of teenagers.
He was punched and kicked unconscious and suffered a broken collar bone, two broken teeth and broken ribs.
British Transport Police described the assault, caught on CCTV footage as "a cowardly and vicious attack". Detectives are keen to catch the gang in case they strike again.
Police today released CCTV pictures of the gang on the train shortly after the attack which happened on the 10.39pm service from Waterloo to Guildford on 15 March.
BTP Detective Constable Vanessa Cottington said: "When the train arrived at Wimbledon the carriage doors opened and a group of youths on the platform became abusive to passengers on the train.
"The same group had moments earlier been abusive to staff manning the gates at the station.
"Food, drink and a traffic cone were thrown into the carriage, resulting in a female suffering a bump to the head.
"A fellow passenger, who came to the defence of the injured female, approached the group to speak with the male who threw the cone.
"He was then assaulted by a group of six to eight youths and was kicked unconscious."
She added: "This was a cowardly and vicious assault on a passenger who was coming to the defence of a female who was injured in a completely unprovoked attack."
The victim is recovering from his ordeal as he was travelling home but is unlikely to return to work for some time, such was the ferocity of the beating.
CCTV shows the group leaving the station after the attack and heading towards Wimbledon's Centre Court shopping centre. Dc Cottington said: "We are circulating a series of still images of several males who we would like to identify as part of our ongoing investigations."
This violent attack comes as the Evening Standard continues its Safer Stations campaign, which was launched after the murder of Tom ap Rhys Pryce as he walked home from a Tube station in 2006.
He was killed in an attack by robbers after he left Kensal Green station, which was unmanned, late at night.
Anyone who recognises anyone in the CCTV picture should call British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40, or the witness appeal line on 020 7391 5275.
