A drunk passenger on a Carlisle-bound train lobbed a friend's crutch across a carriage like a spear, injuring a ten-year-old girl.

Astonished commuters could only look on helplessly as the projectile flew through the air before clattering to the ground, hitting one passenger on the leg before bouncing off the child's head, Carlisle's Rickergate Magistrates Court heard.

The passenger responsible immediately apologised.

The incident has prompted one union leader to call for tougher action to tackle antisocial behaviour on the Northern Rail service, which in the past was plagued by drink-fulled disorder.

In court, Connor Little, 24, of Hillcrest Avenue, Carlisle, pleaded guilty to common assault. Prosecutor Pam Ward described how the defendant committed the offence while he was on the evening Newcastle to Carlisle train on May 19.

In one part of the carriage, the little girl was sitting with her parents. Several seats away from them sat the defendant and a group of his friends. They had boarded the train at Newcastle.

As the train was leaving Haydon Bridge, witnesses saw LIttle pick up a metal crutch and then hurl it towards the front of the train.

"It flew past five or six seats and then landed, hitting one passenger on the leg and [the girl]on the head," said Mrs Ward.

The child's father immediately retrieved the crutch and took it to the group of young men, where he confronted the group. "The defendant did admit it was him who threw the crutch," said Mrs Ward.

"He was very apologetic."

The girl suffered a small but painful bump to her head, said the prosecutor.

Rachel Dixon, for Little said: "This is an offence committed in drink and that is really the explanation behind this behaviour that day."

Little had been in Newcastle, saying farewell to a friend who was moving to Australia.

"He made a stupid mistake," said the lawyer, explaining that Little's action followed a spur-of-the-moment decision, which he deeply regretted.

Sentencing the self-employed bricklayer, District Judge Gerald Chalk said: "This was a reckless act. Frankly, throwing a metal object on a train was always likely to cause injury. Fortunately, the injury was minor and you owned up to it straight away.

"And you had the good sense to apologise."

He fined Little £250, and imposed £150 compensation for the child, and £85 costs.

Craig Johnston, from the RMT rail workers' union, said drink-fueled antisocial behaviour was still an issue on the Carlisle to Newcastle service, despite efforts to tackle it.

He said: "There's evidence of an increase in crime and antisocial behaviour across the whole rail network. In many cases, staff have almost given up the ghost in terms of reporting these problems. Taking staff off trains won't improve the situation."

He welcomed Northern's decision to make the last two trains from Newcastle alcohol free, but said more needed to be done.

A British Transport Police (BTP) spokesman said tackling anti-social behaviour and crime on the rail network is a priority for BTP. "We work closely with train operators to ensure the railway is a safe and pleasant environment to travel," he said.

“We know there are concerns regarding anti-social behaviour on board the train service between Newcastle and Carlisle station, particularly during evening periods."

He said BTP officers regularly patrol on board these services and at stations. Concerned passengers and staff can discreetly report problems by texting BTP on 61016.

A Northern spokesman said he believed there was less antisocial behaviour on the Carlisle to Newcastle service since measures to tackle the issue were introduced. Guards were not being removed, but roles were changing, he said.