A man has been sentenced to six months in prison for a random attack against a man at Leigh railway station.

John McDonagh, aged 19, of South Esk Road, Forest Gate, in London, was convicted of causing actual bodily harm.

He was sentenced at Southend Magistrates’ Court on 5 February to six months in prison and ordered to pay £115 victim compensation.

On March 1, 2016, the victim, a 61-year-old man, was waiting for a train to work at around 4.20am at Leigh railway station.

McDonagh arrived at the station on a train and in an unprovoked attack he punched the victim in the face, causing a broken nose and fractured tooth.

McDonagh then got back on the train and began mocking the victim and swearing at him.

McDonagh had been at a local nightclub until the early hours of Monday morning and was identified from nightclub photographs and the ID scanner at the entrance of the club and eventually arrested.

Investigating officer, PC Scott Stedman, said: “This was a completely unprovoked attack on a member of the public who was going about his business.

"A long and drawn out investigation ensued but we were ultimately able to identify the person responsible, and I applaud the custodial sentence handed down by the court.

"Clearly McDonagh is a violent individual. We will always pursue and place before the court, those individuals who commit violent offences on the transport network.”