A train passenger who hurled abuse at a 12-year-old girl before assaulting two women - ripping a chunk of hair out of one woman's head - has been ordered to pay hundreds of pounds in compensation.
Lincoln Grandson, 56, shouted and swore at the child on board a train between Glasgow Central and Gourock last year, before assaulting two witnesses who tried to intervene.
The girl boarded the train at Cartsdyke station at 8:59pm on November 10, 2024, and attempted to pass Grandson, who was ‘sitting with his legs spread open’.
A verbal argument broke out after the girl told Grandson to close his legs.
Greenock Sheriff Court heard Grandson approached the child and aggressively pointed in her face, calling her a ‘prostitute’.
The girl stood on a seat and screamed at Grandson, telling him to leave her alone.
He thereafter continued his behaviour and called her a ‘cow’ numerous times.
A ticket examiner told the girl to move to the next carriage of the train, and warned he would contact the police, but Grandson ‘appeared undeterred’.
Two women, who had been sitting in the same carriage, urged Grandson to leave the train.
But instead of calming down, he forcefully struck one of the women on the shoulder, knocking her backwards.
Grandson went on to lunge at the second woman, and grabbed hold of her hair. He then pulled her from her seat on to the ground, yanking at her head and neck.
The woman’s screams for help caught the attention of other passengers before Grandson eventually released his grip.
He left the train at Greenock West station at 9.04pm.
One of Grandson's victims subsequently attended the A&E department at Inverclyde Royal Hospital complaining of head, neck and back pain.
She claimed to have suffered hair loss damage to her scalp and hair loss and was assessed as having whiplash before being given co-codamol and sent home to rest.
Grandson pleaded guilty to the two assaults, as well as a charge of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner towards the girl, at a hearing in June.
His sentencing has been delayed several times since then, due to problems getting him to appear in court and issues in the preparation of background reports.
Grandson's defence solicitor Gerry Keenan told the June hearing: "He recognises and apologises unreservedly for his behaviour."
Grandson returned to court on Wednesday, where Sheriff Anthony McGeehan expressed concern at the serious nature of the offences.
Sheriff McGeehan also recognised the efforts of the ticket examiner and passengers in intervening.
He said: “You escalated your behaviour, proceeding to assault two passengers who have bravely become involved in attempting to stop you.
“All of the offences were committed on a train, while other passengers were trapped in that carriage with you, in what must have been a frightening experience for them.
“The sentencing report described you as 'deeply disgusted' and 'ashamed' of your own behaviour.
“You are right to be so.”
The sheriff told Grandson he had taken into account his lack of previous offending and expression of remorse in reaching a decision on sentencing.
Grandson, formerly of Tottenham in north London but now living in Glasgow, was ordered to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work and will remain under the supervision of social workers for the next 12 months.
He was also hit with a curfew which will confine him to his home address on the south side of the city between 7pm and 7am for four months, and will have to wear an electronic tag to monitor his movements.
Grandson was also ordered to pay £500 in compensation to the woman who suffered hair loss and whiplash as a result of his assault.
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