Foul mouthed teenager behind bars

A TEENAGER from Ipswich is behind bars today after bombarding two females with a terrifying torrent of abuse, forcing them to leave their train two stops early.

Dolian McKenzie, 19, was one of four males responsible for dishing out the hail of "four-letter" abusive words to the two females as they travelled on a train, on May 19. They had been returning to Manningtree, Essex, after a day out in Diss, Norfolk.

South East Suffolk Magistrates' court heard that McKenzie, who pleaded guilty to a charge of threatening behaviour, had breached a community punishment order by committing the offence and sentenced him to 28 days in a young offenders' institute.

Prosecuting, Gareth Davies said: "It was an act of bravado and bullying by four males and this defendant was very much part of this.

"The girls were so distressed that they got off the train and reported the incident to a female employee of the train company."

The two females left their train in Stowmarket, 25 miles their Manningtree home, after fearing for their safety.

Stephen Washington, 34, of Old Foundry Road, Ipswich, has already been sentenced to 70 hours community punishment by Bury St Edmunds Magistrates' court for his role in the incident. He was also charged with threatening behaviour. The court heard that he had tried to plant a kiss on the lips of one of the females.

The two other males involved in the incident are under 18 years of age and are unable to be identified for legal reasons.

McKenzie, of no fixed address but formerly of Upton Close, Ipswich, was re-sentenced by the court for breaching his 120-hour community punishment order three times. He had committed previous offences of drink driving, using threatening behaviour and interfering with a vehicle.

Chairwoman of the bench Anne Parry also ordered McKenzie to pay £25 to both of his female victims.

She said: "This is a very serious offence. These were two vulnerable females and you displayed very threatening behaviour. You subjected them to persistent and unpleasant abuse."

Speaking after the case, Peter Meades of Anglia Railways said the company's staff were trained to deal with problems if anyone felt threatened while using their services.

"Our advice to anyone feeling threatened would be to contact a member of staff on the train.

"All our trains have at least a conductor on board, and most also have catering staff. They are trained to deal with situations like this.

"Our advice to anyone who feels threatened at any stage during a journey would be to contact a member of staff who will take the appropriate action," he said.