VIDEO - Man jailed for Donal MacIntyre assault

THE man who attacked undercover TV reporter Donal MacIntyre in a bar in East Molesey has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

James Wild, 47, of Bridge Wharf, Chertsey, appeared at Guildford Crown Court for sentencing on Friday having been previously convicted of assault?occasioning actual bodily harm on Mr MacIntyre and his wife Ameera.

He?was given a two-year sentence for the assault on Mr MacIntyre and six months more?for assaulting his wife.

The?incident came as a result of a 1999 documentary made by the reporter on the Chelsea Headhunters firm, which led to a notorious football hooligan being jailed.

Sentencing Wild, Recorder Laurence West QC?said: "What happened in my view, having heard all of the evidence, is that following the original incident you were one of the figures involved in the further attack on Mr MacIntyre.

"You were involved in the?attack in the foyer of the club where Mrs MacIntyre put it that people who attacked her husband were on him like a pack of wolves.

"Wolves is giving them too much credit because wolves have courage."

Wild's?trial, which lasted?a week, heard the MacIntyres were at the Cloud 9 bar on June 17 last year when they were attacked.

Mrs MacIntyre?had been?due to go for a brain scan the next day.

An?altercation was sparked after they were approached by a man dressed head to toe in black, who began shouting at Mr MacIntyre.

The couple ran to the toilets but were surrounded by a gang as they attempted to leave. Mr MacIntyre was knocked over and hit by James Wild as he tried to get up.

He suffered?a black eye as a result of the attack, while his wife was left with bruises.

Gregory Fishwick, defending, said he was forced to go sift through a "binload" of references because of his client's good reputation.

"James Wild is a loving, giving, caring and hardworking man who does what he can for others, particularly with regards to his charity work," he said.

"His wife, his child, his fledging business would be affected if he is incarcerated."

The 25 days Wild spent on remand will count towards his sentence.

Speaking after the sentencing, Mr MacIntyre said?he was?very pleased that?"justice had been done."

But he added: "It is with great regret that only one of the 10 people who were involved in the assault were in the dock.

"I would invite Surrey Police and the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) to review this case and to review the support they give to witnesses.

"I am still grateful for the support?of my wife who had to go through what she and my family members shouldn't ever have to go through."

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VIDEO - Cement mixer falls on train, five hurt

FIVE?people have been?hurt, three of them seriously,?after a cement mixer?crashed through the side of a road bridge?on the A244 Warren Lane in Oxshott and fell?onto a?train passing underneath.

The incident took place at about 3.30pm on Friday. South West Trains said the vehicle hit?two rear carriages of the eight-coach train, which was carrying?around 40?passengers at the time.

The lorry driver, one of the people who suffered serious injuries,?was left?trapped in his cab.

A British Transport Police spokesman said: "Police were called to the line near to Oxshott railway station after a report that a lorry had come off of a road bridge and landed on carriages of a passing passenger service.

"The incident was reported to police at 3.33pm. The train involved was a Guildford to London Waterloo service."

Two people with serious injuries were taken to St George's Hospital, in Tooting, and the third to the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford, suffering from lower back pain.

Two others described as walking wounded went to Epsom General Hospital.

The?remainder of the train's passengers, a total of 39 people,?were taken to Cobham Day Centre in Oakdene Road.

Among the uninjured passengers were?nine London-based Woking FC academy players,?including first team squad member Ola Sogbanmu.

They were returning from football training at Guildford County School, and Sogbanmu said: "We went past Oxshott, five seconds later the train just jolted and then it stopped. The lights went out in the carriage.

"We noticed people starting to come out of the other carriage, then we found?out that a cement mixer had come off a bridge.

"The doors which were separating?the two carriages wouldn't open up.

"It was then that we saw this guy's leg just sticking out. We had to keep talking to him to make sure he was OK."

There were a lot of traumatised people

Train passenger Fred Santana

Academy player Victor Borode added:?"I still can't believe it now. It's a massive shock.

"We were supposed to be on that carriage [the one that was hit] because the way the seats are arranged makes it easy for us to communicate."

The other players were Timi Raji, Akeem Raji,?Josh Griffiths, Alfred Ajani, Ade Joshua, Jason Cardona-Cruz and Reece Morgan.

Dennis North, the club's academy director, said: "It seems they were very lucky that none of them were injured.

"Some of the lads?were very much in the vicinity of where the cement mixer fell.

"If they had been sitting a few feet further along it could have had more dire consequences, but they're all OK.

"From some of the TV interviews they gave it seems they acted very responsibly.

"They said the driver of the cement mixer was trapped and they tried to keep him calm."

"Remained upright"

Fred Santana, 18, from Waterloo, was also on board the train and he?posted pictures from the scene?via Twitter.

He said: "There were a lot of traumatised people. We were on there for about two hours, because South West Trains say they had to turn all the [railway] lines off and they didn't want us to walk in the dark.

"They put lights out for us and walked with us to make sure we got off safely. They gave us water and a bit later they gave us tea.

"They did as well as they could, because they didn't expect it."

One eyewitness who lives in Warren Lane said it was an accident "waiting to happen".

"My wife was first to the scene. We heard an almighty crash and bang and she went out to see what happened," he said.

"She went up to the bridge but all she could see was the train.

"This is the first serious accident we've had here in the last few months."

Speaking from the scene on Friday evening, British Transport Police Superintendent Philip Trendell said the train was not derailed despite the impact of the cement mixer.

"Clearly the vehicle has left the road and?how that happened is currently the focus of an investigation," he said.

"This accident did result in injury but clearly it could have been a lot worse.

All trains?were suspended?between Surbiton and Effingham Junction, with the line expected to remain closed into Saturday and a replacement bus service in operation

The following stations?have been?affected: Hinchley Wood, Claygate, Oxshott, Cobham and Stoke D'Abernon, Effingham Junction, Horsley, Clandon, London Road and Guildford. Trains were being diverted via Woking and Leatherhead.

Customers?should visit?ojp.nationalrail.co.uk?for more information?or call TrainTracker on 0871 200 49 50.

Rescue attempts

A South West Trains spokesman said: "The train remained?upright throughout the incident.

"Our first priority and thoughts are for those who have been injured in this incident, as well as their families and loved ones, and our own employees.

"Our response team is attending the scene and we are working with Network Rail and the emergency services to ensure those involved are given every assistance.

"Safety is our absolute priority and we will do everything in our power to assist the investigation into the accident."

South East Coast Ambulance Service?said all those involved in the incident were assessed at the scene.

A spokeswoman for Surrey Fire and Rescue Service said eight fire engines had attended, with crews helping with the rescue attempts.

Surrey Police?advised motorists to avoid the Oxshott area and find alternative routes, as Warren Lane was closed from the junction with Sandy Lane to junction 9 of the M25 at Leatherhead.

Local MP Dominic Raab was at the accident scene on Friday evening, and he said: "I have spoken? to South West Trains, the chief constable and Network Rail and I have been assured about what they are doing to make sure things are dealt with as soon as possible."

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