A DATABASE consultant from Swindon has been ordered to pay £950 for racially abusing a Tube worker after his DNA was left on a cigarette.

Brendan Nangle, 52, was finally brought to justice at City of London Magistrates’ Court on July 4 for racially abusing Underground staff at St James’ Park station last November, and then failing to attend court.

He was only caught and traced back to Swindon after station staff retrieved his discarded cigarette and the police sent it off for forensic tests.

At about 11.30pm on November 19 last year, Nangle was seen in an agitated state in the ticket hall at St. James’s Park station verbally abusing two cleaning contractors.

He had clearly been drinking and station staff asked him to leave but he began to racially abuse them.

He was advised that the police would be called if he didn’t stop but he continued to swear at staff.

The supervisor monitored Nangle, while the customer service assistant went to call the British Transport Police, but by the time police arrived Nangle had left by train.

However, the station staff retrieved an unsmoked cigarette which Nangle had in his mouth and which he discarded, and it was sent off for forensic examination.

It led to Nangle being identified and he was arrested at his home address in Swindon in February this year.

He was charged to appear at City of London Magistrates’ Court on June 8 but failed to attend.

The trial went ahead in his absence, he was found guilty and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Nangle was later arrested on an unconnected matter by police officers in Swindon and the warrant issued for his arrest was flagged up.

The British Transport Police were advised and he was brought to court on July 4 where he was fined £400 for causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm and distress and a further £250 for failing to attend court. He was also ordered to pay £300 court costs.

Aidan Harris, the manager of the London Underground Workplace Violence Unit, said: “Nangle’s behaviour was totally unacceptable.

“Our staff must be able to work without fear of attack whether it is in the form of physical or verbal abuse, and racial abuse is totally unacceptable.

“The staff at St James’ Park acted with commendable astuteness in securing the discarded roll-up cigarette as it was this which ultimately allowed the British Transport Police to track him down.”

British Transport Police Chief Inspector Kate Shaw, of the Workplace Violence Unit, said: “The fact that the members of staff retained vital evidence, despite what had just happened, was crucial to place Nangle at the crime scene.

“This was an unpleasant and intimidating experience for the members of staff involved and behaviour such as this will not be tolerated.”