'Monster' jailed for train murder bid with Buckfast bottle caught on video

A man described as a “monster” has been jailed for 12 years for a “wild attack” on two men with a glass Buckfast bottle on board a train.

Thomas Craig, 48, of East Renfrewshire, was convicted of attempted murder and serious assault, following a British Transport Police (BTP) investigation.

Shocking CCTV footage showed him leaping from his seat armed with a glass bottle. On Monday, he was jailed.

Thomas Craig, 48, and of Walton Street in East Renfrewshire, was found guilty on 28 November following a four-day trial at Glasgow High Court. BTP

Judge Lord Arthurson told Craig: “Your victims were complete strangers to you. You had, that day, taken alcohol for six hours and also cocaine.

“Footage of the crimes was played to the jury. In a background report for this case, you described yourself as ‘a monster’ who was unrecognisable to you.

“You launched a violently appalling attack, terrifying them and all on board who witnessed what you did.”

Attack will ‘haunt’ victims

On February 16, 2024, Craig was drunk on a train from Glasgow Queen Street to Perth when he began speaking to other passengers sat across the aisle from him.

Within ten minutes of the conversation beginning he hurled an insult at a victim, before suddenly launching an attack where he jumped from his seat and hit the victim twice over the head with a glass bottle.

The victim ran away through the train carriage, but Craig pursued him and continued to relentlessly strike him with the bottle until it smashed, leaving Craig holding the broken neck of the bottle.

The victim’s friend tried to intervene but was attacked himself when Craig turned and punched him seven times before he twice thrusted the broken neck of the glass bottle into his chest.

Craig then returned to his seat, throwing the neck of the bottle towards where the victims had been sat. He then grabbed one of the victims’ phones and pocketed it.

He walked down the train before taking off his blood-soaked jumper, replacing it with a clean hoodie from his belongings.

Police and paramedics met the train at Larbert railway station, where both victims were treated for their injuries before being urgently taken to hospital, and Craig was arrested on board by officers.

The injuries to the second victim were so severe he was placed into intensive care, having suffered a stab wound close to his heart, a collapsed lung, and a severed artery that resulted in him losing around 15% of his blood.

Craig’s defence advocate, Tony Graham KC, said: “There are essentially two Thomas Craigs.

“One who behaves in an inappropriate and criminal way and one who is a contributor to those around him.”

The advocate added Craig has “struggled to understand” how he behaved that day, but is aware the attacks will likely continue to “haunt” the victims.

Mr Graham: “He is a man who has seen his face on CCTV. He is man who has seen what he has done.”

Craig had also written a letter for Lord Arthurson which the judge described as “impressive”.

He will be supervised for a further three years on his release.

British Transport Police detective inspector Marc Francey said: “Craig acted in a truly despicable manner, violently and relentlessly attacking two men over a minor disagreement and causing countless passengers on the train to panic.

“His indiscriminate and thuggish actions could have resulted in far more severe consequences, both for his victims and for himself. It is thanks only to luck and to the lifesaving work of the paramedics that Craig hasn’t been found guilty of something far worse.

“I hope this verdict brings a measure of closure to the victims after enduring such a brutal attack. Violence on the railway is utterly unacceptable, and we will relentlessly pursue offenders like Craig to ensure they face justice.”