Man jailed for railway attack
A 33-YEAR-old man has been jailed after pushing a woman onto the railway tracks at Farningham Road railway station.
Although 59-year-old Linda Buchanan escaped the incident with only a fractured wrist and bruising to her legs, police have said the outcome could have been very different.
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Ionel Rapisca, 33, of Joyce Green Lane, Dartford
Yesterday at Maidstone Crown Court, Ionel Rapisca, of Joyce Green Lane, Dartford, was sentenced after he was found guilty of grievous bodily harm.
But he was found not guilty of a separate charge of grievous bodily harm with intent.
No further action was taken against another man who was also arrested in connection with the incident, in August 2008.
Detective chief inspector Gareth Williams, of British Transport Police, said: "This was an appalling act of violence on a woman who was simply intending to catch an early morning commuter train to London.
"As a result of the unprovoked attack, she suffered a range of physical injuries and the incident has left her profoundly traumatised to this day.
"Miss Buchanan was extremely lucky that she wasn't more seriously injured as she fell near to a rail carrying 750 volts of electricity and the arrival of her train was imminent.
"Ionel Rapisca's actions could easily have resulted in a very different outcome.
"His four-year jail sentence for this serious offence is justice for an unprovoked, senseless and reckless act that threatened the life of a fellow commuter."
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by Steve, Tonbridge
Thursday, March 04 2010, 4:46PM
“4 years..what a joke.And JR of Tonbridge..That's why this country is in the state it is, because people just turn the other way instead of speaking out and helping. Glad i don't live next door to you.”
by dmh, Sussex
Thursday, March 04 2010, 1:45PM
“I dont know the background to this and frankly I dont care.
This thug threw a lady a lot older than him onto the railway line.There can be no justification for that and he should have got a longer sentence than 4years out in 2.I hope someone in prison knocks that smug smirk off his face shown in the picture above.”
by Jock, Paddock Wood
Thursday, March 04 2010, 1:42PM
“Ranter, you are right. Smokers should abide by the current laws. He should not of been smoking on the platform. Even as a casual smoker this would still offend me too.
However, saying "I dont like the smell of cancer" reeks of someone who did more than just politely ask someone to refrain from smoking.”
by Ranter, Sevenoaks
Thursday, March 04 2010, 1:10PM
“You should be able to point out to someone that it is unlawful to smoke on a station platform without being assaulted and then finding yourself in the nightmare position of being on the tracks. Saying that, from the reports I have seen and read the victim certainly contributed to what happened - but we can't have it both ways. Despite the howls of anguish from 'smokers' about freedom and liberty, smoking is a fould and disgusting past time which should be banned completely in public. Smoke in your own homes if you want to. That said, if you want to tell someone what they are doing is wrong, do so politely.”
by Jock, Paddock Wood
Thursday, March 04 2010, 12:23PM
“If you see the CCTV footage that was on the news its clear that Mrs Buchanan went after a confrontation. She obviously did not deserve the consequences, however, there is no smoke without fire, and I'm sure that she isnt the sweet little innocent victim that she makes herself out to be.
Perhaps she will keep her anti-smoking opinions to herself in future.”