A THUG who assaulted a ticket inspector on a train faces a ban from the railways as well as a spell behind bars.

Scott Cootes, 25, pleaded guilty to assaulting ticket inspector James Greaves between Wickford and Rayleigh stations and then threatening and abusing him.

Cootes, who is formerly from south Essex but has been held in prison for another offence since mid-November, appeared at Southend Magistrates’ Court.

British Transport Police have applied to get an antisocial behaviour order against Cootes, because of previous offences on the railways, which would see him banned from trains across the country.

The exact terms and length of the order would be decided when Cootes is sentenced.

District judge Kevin Gray warned him: “A custodial sentence may be justified.”

Keith Rylands, prosecuting, said that Cootes was using foul language while talking on a mobile phone about 3.30pm on September 1 last year.

When Mr Greaves asked him to stop, Cootes hit him on the nose causing his glasses to fall off.

Another inspector got involved and Cootes was forced off the train at Rayleigh station where he was arrested by police.

Before his arrest, Cootes, who has a number of previous convictions, yelled at Greaves: “I’ll stab and punch your lights out.”

Simon Samuels, defending, said: “His behaviour over the last few years has been dominated by anger management.”

Mr Samuels told the court: “He is determined to make a fresh start away from south Essex in Didcot, Oxfordshire, and has taken time to reflect on his own behaviour.”

Cootes was remanded in custody until his sentencing on January 20 at the same court.