THUG TRAPPED BY LAGER DNA

8:13am Wednesday 14th May 2008

A NINETEEN-year-old Winsford man who was found guilty of assaulting a train guard was caught by DNA evidence from a can of lager.

Robert Bownes, of Station Road, was caught after police took a swab of saliva from the rim of the can Bownes knocked a train guard down a flight of stairs at Winsford Railway Station, Vale Royal Magistrates were told.

He was sentenced to six months' detention at a youth offenders institute and ordered to pay £200 compensation after being found guilty of assault with actual bodily harm.

He was sentenced to a further 21 days (to run concurrently) for failing to surrender to police bail earlier in the investigation.

The incident occurred on the evening of October 5, 2006 on a journey from Liverpool Lime Street. A group of youths were causing a nuisance on board the train, the court was told. They got off at Winsford and an altercation ensued between the guard and one of the youths over a ticket.

The guard, 51, from Crewe, followed the group up a flight of stairs in an attempt to apprehend one of them.

As he did so he was knocked down a flight of about seven to 10 stairs and received a cut to the head and injuries to his hip and abdomen.

He was treated at the scene by paramedics and later attended hospital.

DNA evidence recovered from an empty can of lager led British Transport Police officers to arrest Bownes on 22 October 2007.

Sgt Sean Morgan of BTP said after the hearing on Monday, April 28: "This conviction was down to some excellent work by officers and crime scene examiners, who were able to glean DNA evidence from a can of lager."