'I thought I was at home': Dozens of trains cancelled as man sleeps on rail line

Matthew Baddeley told police he believed he was at home when discovered on the line at Smethwick Galton Bridge station, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

The 33-year-old, from Pendeford, Wolverhampton, escaped unhurt when a train driver spotted him - but his action caused the cancellation of 66 services on the night of May 23.

It has since cost Network Rail £41,000 in customer compensation.

Baddeley, of Banstead Close, was jailed for a year after pleading guilty to obstructing a carriage on a railway line.

Miss Wendy Miller, prosecuting, told the court: "The defendant was found lying on the railway tracks at night by a driver who was passing through Smethwick Galton Bridge.

"Fortunately the driver stopped the train.

"When police came to investigate he was plainly intoxicated and thought he was at home in Wolverhampton.

"His actions resulted in £41,000 worth of compensation having to be paid out, 66 cancellations having to be made and significant delays to services."

The court heard how Baddeley, 33, has a long list of convictions but none related to obstructing a train track.

Mr Stephen Hamblett, defending Baddeley, said: "He readily accepts he was intoxicated on the day even though he can't remember it.

"The comments made to the police about thinking he was at home, he can't remember those either.

He added: "The defendant married earlier this year and wants to move to Kidderminster."

Judge Michael Challinor told Baddeley that his actions had caused 'considerable harm' to Network Rail and people who use trains, while claiming his sentence was 'both punishment and a deterrent'.

He said: "In terms of seriousness and culpability, this is a very serious incident and you are culpable.

"The harm caused by your actions is considerable.

"There has been a loss of revenue to Network Rail which will no doubt find its way around to the rail user eventually.

"It is difficult to gauge how much inconvenience you caused to individuals but it was a serious problem caused on an important rail route."

Network Rail spokesman Jon Crampton said: "This reckless type of behaviour puts lives at risk and causes delay and disruption to passengers.

"We fully support action against those responsible to deter them and others from acting inresponsibly in the future."

Sergeant Alun Jones from British Transport Police said: "Baddeley's actions, fuelled by alcohol, not only caused disruption and inconvenience to hundreds of passengers, but also put his life and those who had to rescue him from the tracks, at serious risk.

"I hope this sentence serves as a warning to anyone who trespasses on the railway and disrupts the day-to-day lives of the travelling public, that the courts take a very dim view of such behaviour and BTP will do everything in its power to bring offenders to justice."