Graffiti vandal 'blocks' Wallsend track to target Metro
A graffiti vandal deliberately blocked a train track to halt a Metro which was arriving at a Wallsend station.
The vandal put wooden pallets on the line at the Hadrian Road station on 20 June so he could delay the train and spray it with paint.
Police said the driver got out to remove the items and smelled paint. He realised a man was spraying the train and taking photographs.
A spokesman for Metro said there was "minimal" risk to passengers.
Police have reviewed CCTV images.
Richard McClean, Managing Director of Metro operator DBTW, said: "In this case there was a very minimal risk to passengers as the train was slowing down on its approach to the station.
"The driver of the train saw what was ahead of him straight away and took the appropriate action.
"The greatest danger here was to the vandal - by doing this the person was not only breaking the law but also putting their life at risk."