Police Investigate Train Attack

British Transport Police detectives have issued a public appeal for information after a man was attacked onboard a train as it travelled between Winchester and Eastleigh railway stations.

Investigators have also released CCTV footage of a man they want to identify and talk to in connection with the incident, which took place just before 1am on Sunday, 21 November 2010.

The victim, a 30-year-old man from Southampton, was travelling on the 23.49 London Waterloo to Southampton South West Train Service as a man and his friends boarded the train at Winchester.

DC Matt Bevan, the investigating officer, said:

"At present the cause of the altercation is unclear, but what we do know is that the man was travelling alone on the service when he was approached by a man who began verbally abusing him.

"As he left his seat and walked away up the carriage, the suspect followed before suddenly headbutting the man, punching him and biting his finger."

The man police want to talk to was wearing a navy blue polo shirt and jeans. He is described as being of slim build with short dark hair, and at the time was accompanied by two women and two men who are not believed to be involved in the incident, but who exited the service with him at Southampton Parkway rail station at around 1am.

"This was a particularly nasty and violent attack on a man who was simply trying to make his way home after a night out, he was left very shaken and distressed by what took place.

"As part of our investigation we've conducted a number of enquiries to try and trace the person responsible for this incident, including circulating images on police intelligence systems and speaking with local neighbourhood policing teams, but to no avail so far."

If you recognise the man, contact British Transport Police on Freefone 0800 40 50 40 and quote reference B7 LSA of 10/02/11

Information can also be passed to Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.