A drunken thug who attacked a stranger on a train after accusing him of stealing his phone has been jailed for 16 months.
Peter Prior, 35, battered the 45-year-old man even though he had emptied his pockets in a bid to show he did not have the device.
The victim punched Prior, but he head-butted him before unleashing a volley of kicks and punches.
The force knocked the victim to the floor where vicious Prior booted him twice on the head.
The passenger managed to get to his feet and fled to another carriage as the train approached Whifflet, Lanarkshire.
But he was chased by Prior who grabbed hold of him, pinned him against a wall and head-butting and punching him again.
The man fled the train and was taken to Monklands Hospital for treatment and police were called.
CCTV footage led to Prior being identified and he was later arrested.
It later emerged he had dropped his phone at Rutherglen train station before boarding the train.
Prior, of Motherwell, appeared via video link from HMP Addiewell at Airdrie Sheriff Court and admitted the assault in September 2020.
He was caged by Sheriff Morag Shankland who said it would have been 24 months had he not pled guilty.
Depute fiscal Kevin Jarvis said: "The complainer volunteered to empty his own pockets to confirm he didn't have the phone.
"The accused became aggressive and attacked the complainer by head-butting him.
"The complainer decided to punch the accused and the accused followed that with kicks and punches to the complainer which caused him to fall to the floor.
"The accused stood over the top of him and kicked him twice to the head.
"The complainer managed to get up and ran to the next carriage but was followed and continued to assault the complainer by seizing hold of him, pinning him up against the carriage wall and headbutting him and throwing several punches to his head."
Paul Langan, defending, said: "They were initially in a friendly conversation but he thought the complainer had taken his phone.
"The complainer had not taken his phone and it seems he may have dropped it at Rutherglen train station. This was no way to react."
Sheriff Shankland said: "You have to go to prison for this.
"People are entitled to travel on trains safely and your behaviour was not only terrifying for the person involved but for all the other passengers on that train."
