A ticketless train passenger has been jailed for being abusive towards a member of rail staff because he was Welsh.

Kevin Byrne, 59, threatened to stab the Welshman who had simply asked to see his train ticket at the barriers at Shrewsbury railway station.

Byrne threatened: "I am going to slit your throat. If you get me arrested, I am going to stab you."

Byrne became increasingly aggressive and abused the member of rail staff for being Welsh.

He went on to threaten another member of rail staff, shouting “you are a dead man”.

The chaos unfolded when Byrne tried to exit the barriers without a ticket at Shrewsbury station at around 5.30pm one day in November 2019.

Byrne, of Church Stretton, Shropshire, was found guilty of racially aggravated fear or provocation of violence at Telford Magistrates’ Court.

He was handed a 20-week prison sentence and ordered to pay £1,315 in compensation at Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court.

Sgt Emma Harper, of British Transport Police, said: “Threatening behaviour towards members of rail staff will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

“I am grateful to the courts for the sentence imposed on the defendant and hope it serves as a reminder that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated on the railway.

“We will continue to deal with antisocial behaviour robustly and ensure offenders are brought to justice.”