A TEENAGER from Swindon lobbed stones at railway station staff before lying on the tracks and urging onlookers to let him die.

Trains had to be prevented from entering the station, costing railway companies an estimated £1,500.

Ewan Parrott, 19, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and a Victorian charge of obstructing an engine using the railway.

But he said he had no memory of his escapades at Chippenham train station.

Parrott, of Station Road, Swindon, suspected a man with whom he had been drinking on the train to Chippenham had slipped a substance in his booze.

Magistrates adjourned the case, bailing Parrott to live at a secure accommodation block in Gloucester. He is expected to be sentenced at a later date.

Outlining the case, prosecutor Michelle Hewitt said Parrott had been asked to leave Chippenham station after abusing café staff on Thursday afternoon. The teen was just four days short of completing his licence, following a conviction last year for assaulting his mother and her partner.

She said Parrott had assaulted two station staff-members, Chris Wikings and Mark Loft, kicking one and throwing stones at another.

“He’s laid on the tracking, causing the trains to stop,” Ms Hewitt said. Parrott then threatened to stab onlookers, although no weapon was subsequently found.

When he was eventually restrained, the teenager was said to have cried “just let me die”.

Defending, Terry McCarthy said his client had been travelling to Chippenham to meet a friend.

“At Swindon station he helped someone who had an injury by rolling a cigarette,” he added.

In return, the man had offered him alcohol on the train ride to Chippenham.

At the Wiltshire station, the mystery man had bought cigarettes and invited Parrott to his home.

“He blacked out,” said Mr McCarthy of his client. “Next thing he remembered was waking up in the police station several hours later. He was concerned about what might have been in the alcohol he was given to drink.”

Parrott suffered with mental health problems, his solicitor added. He had sought help from his GP, but had been told he must stop drinking and taking drugs.

He had been expected to return to court on Monday, March 4. When he failed to attend, a warrant was issued for arrest.

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