A THUG who punched and spat at a staff member at a train station in a "disgusting assault" has been jailed.

David Sellars was drunk when he arrived at Southend Central train station in April this year.

While intoxicated, he attempted to tailgate another customer through the barrier line.

Members of gate staff, witnesses this and directed Sellars to the ticket window, asking him to purchase a ticket, at which point Sellars became aggressive.

After verbally abusing a member of staff in the ticket office, Sellars then spat over the window and into the coin tray.

The 39-year-old threw several punches, causing a cut, bruising and bleeding to the member of staff's left eye before a colleague came to assist.

Sellars attempted to punch him but fortunately missed.

Once he knew police had been called he left the station.

However, the railway staff took swabs of the saliva he had left at the scene and these were handed to police officers and forensically examined.

British Transport Police were able to identify Sellars, of Old Norwich Road, Ipswich, after a DNA match to his saliva.

Following an investigation, Sellars was located and arrested in August and was later charged with two counts of common assault.

Appearing at Ipswich Magistrates' Court on August, 13, Sellars admitted both counts and was sentenced to 10 weeks in prison and ordered to pay a £425 fine.

Investigating officer, PC Hooper, said: “This is a great result for what was a completely unprovoked and disgusting assault on a member of rail staff who was just doing his job.

"Any result whereby the perpetrator of a violent crime is given a custodial sentence always brings relief to the victims and I welcome the court’s decision to send this violent man to prison.

“I would also like to thank the quick thinking and professionalism of both victims who ensured that the saliva left by the suspect was swabbed.

"Undoubtedly this crucial piece of evidence helped us in tracking down Sellars and bringing him to justice”.