Brian Patterson struck his victim on the side of the head during the ‘vile and premeditated’ assault after grabbing the deadly weapon and attacking the total stranger
A racist thug who hacked a total stranger with an axe at a busy train station has been jailed.
Shocking CCTV captured the moment crazed Brian Patterson launched the terrifying unprovoked attack. He can be seen exiting a train and following his victim and a friend, after spotting the pair on a bridge at Edinburgh Waverley station.
Patterson then attempted to get the attention of the pair as they step onto an escalator inside the station. He was then seen charging towards them from behind before swinging the deadly weapon and striking the man. British Transport Police shared the moment he swung the axe with force, before officers cuffed the 22-year-old for the brutal assault.
A court has heard how Patterson began to racially abuse the man, and make inappropriate sexual comments towards the victim’s friend. Patterson, of Back Braes in Brechin, Scotland, reeked of alcohol just before midnight on September 5 last year, jurors were told.
He grew aggressive and began to threaten the victim, who turned around and got on the escalator to leave. Patterson continued to threaten him, before pulling an axe from within his clothes and hitting the victim to the side of the head.
The victim was unaware he’d been struck by an axe, suffering a bump to the side of the head and cuts along the neck, and he watched as Patterson ran away while tucking something into his waistband.
Police launched an investigation and Patterson was traced less than a month later. While under caution and in custody, Patterson asked the arresting officers if the guy he had ‘supposedly’ attacked was alright.
Patterson was jailed for four years at the High Court in Edinburgh. He pled guilty to racially aggravated assault and causing danger to life at the same court last month. Detectives described the attack as “vile and premeditated”.
Detective Constable Donna Davanna said: “I’m extremely pleased to see Patterson jailed for his vile and premeditated attack. Patterson’s brazen and horrific actions could have resulted in a man losing his life, and it is thanks only to luck that the consequences of the attack were not more severe.
“When under caution and asking about the state of his victim, it quickly became clear that he really only cared about himself and showed utter indignation.
“I hope that regardless of how crass and heartless Patterson has shown to be, this can bring the victim some comfort and closure.
“We take every report of violence on the railway network extremely seriously, and will not tolerate offences such as those carried out by Patterson.”
