Published: Tuesday, 8th July, 2008 7:00pm

Teen train thugs brought to justice

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TEENAGE thugs who viciously attacked a former American marine on a train from Slough will serve time in custody.

The violent drink and drug-fuelled attack on the 52-year-old man happened on January 19 last year, after a late-night train between Slough and London pulled into Paddington Station. It left the victim with a broken cheek bone and the partial loss of vision in his left eye.

The four thugs were sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday last week.

Warsama Abdillahi, 18, of Cippenham, was found guilty of violent disorder and theft and was sentenced to 30 months in a young offenders institution and Ahmed Awled, 18, of Sheffield, was found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent and violent disorder and was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in a young offenders' institution. Awled admitted to having chewed the herbal stimulant ‘khat' before punching the victim in the face.

Ahmed Hassan, 19, of Hayes, and Isaak Abdillahi, 19, of Northolt, were both found guilty of violent disorder and sentenced to 18 months and 25 months in a young offenders' institution respectively. DC Chris Church, investigating officer from British Transport Police, said the man, who was visiting the UK on business, was targeted after he intervened on behalf of fellow passengers who were harassed by the group.

He said: "When the train pulled into Paddington, at around 11.30pm, the group spilled out onto the platform and continued to threaten the victim before cornering him against one of the pillars that run along the station platform."

A staff member put himself in between the group as they tried to punch the victim, but Awled came away from the group and went behind a pillar, punching the victim from the side, smashing his cheekbone and causing severe swelling and bruising.

The group then let out cheers of ‘we got him' and Abdillahi attempted to steal the man's briefcase, but when the victim gave chase he dropped it.

Judge Peter Testar called it a ‘mob-handed attack' and awarded the victim a £500 reward for courage.