A 19-year-old man has admitted spitting in the face of a member of railway staff at Exeter Central station.
Herbie Baker, of Lloyd Maunder Road, Willand, pleaded guilty to assault by beating at Exeter Magistrates’ Court.
The court heard that just before 5.30pm on December 19 last year, a male dressed in black walked through the station gates with another passenger. When a railway worker asked to see Baker’s ticket, he replied that he would buy one on the train. She explained that all passengers must buy a ticket before boarding.
Baker attempted again to get onto the train but missed it. He then spat directly into the victim’s face before walking away. The victim said she was angry and disgusted, adding she did not believe the same thing would have happened to a male member of staff.
In mitigation, the court was told Baker has no previous convictions and appreciates the seriousness of the matter.
Magistrates adjourned the case until 13 May for a pre‑sentence report. Baker was granted conditional bail not to attend Exeter Central station and not to possess alcohol on any railway property.
Sentencing was reserved, but the bench told him: “By all accounts it is nasty. If somebody did this to you, how would you feel and how would you react?”
This story was produced via the Police & Crime Commissioner’s Criminal Justice Court Reporting scheme.
