FRIENDS who were travelling by train to a wedding in Glasgow became embroiled in a drink-fuelled dispute with the police at Penrith, causing a travel delay that cost the train operator £11,000.

The incident reached crisis point as the group arrived at Penrith's station and minor violence broke out, Carlisle’s Rickergate court heard.

In the dock were Natneal Semere, 26, who admitted a police assault, and Melat Abram, 27, who pleaded guilty to resisting a police officer and “obstructing an engine” – meaning she delayed the train.

Prosecutor George Shelley said the incident happened as a group of six friends were travelling on the London to Glasgow Central train on Friday, January 28. When the train was nearing Preston, the train's manager intervened because the party were causing a disturbance, said Mr Shelley.

“The train manager asked them to calm down,” said the prosecutor, explaining that after British Transport Police officers spoke to the group they did quieten down.

But later in the journey, as the train approached Penrith, the situation escalated, with reports that the wedding group were shouting and swearing, and directing abusive comments towards a fellow female passenger.

As a result, at Penrith, police tried to remove some of the group from the train.

Because of his behaviour, Semere was asked to leave the station after he tried to interfere as police officers tried to detain one of the group. Semere pushed an officer, grabbed his shirt, and his arm, leaving him with scratches.

Semere later accepted that he was intoxicated. Abram repeatedly refused to leave the train when asked to by police officers in Penrith. Told she would be forcibly removed if she continued refusing, she screamed at the officer and took steps towards him.

She also later admitted being drunk.

Mr Shelley said the disturbance led to a 66-minute delay in the train reaching its Glasgow Central destination, which left the train operator with related costs of £11,000.

Jeff Smith, for Semere, said the defendant had never been in trouble in the UK before. “Mr Semere is not a frequent consumer of alcohol and he and others in the group were consuming it in an inappropriate manner,” said the lawyer.

“He very much regrets his involvement and apologises to the officer.”

Kate Hunter, for Abram, stressed that the defendant had used no violence but she had expressed remorse for her behaviour that day.

Semere was given a 12-month community order with 60 hours of unpaid work in the community, a £95 victim surcharge, and told to pay £50 compensation to the officer. Abram was given eight weeks jail, suspended for a year.

She also must complete 60 hours of unpaid work and pay a £128 victim surcharge. Magistrates noted that her offence was part of a group action that escalated into violence and delayed the train for more than an hour.

Obstructing and engine or carriage was first defined as an offence under the Malicious Damage Act of 1861.