Essex to London c2c train stabbing: Brothers detained
Two brothers who attacked two ticket inspectors, stabbing one of them, on a London-bound train have been sentenced.
Robert Culley, 17, stabbed a man in the back while Charles Culley, 19, punched another after being challenged for having no tickets on a c2c train.
Robert admitted wounding and possession of a knife and was given four years detention at Basildon Crown Court.
Charles admitted common assault and must serve four months. Both are from Darwin Road, Tilbury.
The court lifted reporting restrictions placed on defendants aged under 18 to allow Robert Culley to be identified.
Speaking after the case, British Transport Police said the brothers boarded the 20:20 GMT Southend Central to Fenchurch Street c2c service on 16 December and were approached by staff.
'Appalling and disgraceful'
Inspectors told the pair to get off the train at East Tilbury, the next stop, as they did not have tickets.
When it arrived at the station, an altercation ensued, with one inspector being punched in the face and Robert Culley stabbing the other under one of his arms using a four-inch knife.
They then ran off and the wounded inspector was taken to Basildon University Hospital, where he received stitches and was later discharged.
British Transport Police said CCTV images were used in the media the next day, leading to the brothers' arrests on 18 December.
Det Con David Bishop said: "This was an appalling and disgraceful attack on two men who were simply doing their job and who had quite rightly asked the brothers to leave the train."
c2c managing director Julian Drury said that since the incident, it had introduced new teams of enforcement officers travelling on daytime and late-night trains along the c2c route.