A TRAIN was delayed when a man sat on the platform at Shotton Lower Station with his legs allegedly dangling over the track.

David James Dixon, 25, from Deeside was considering "ending it all", a court has been told.

But Dixon got up and then caught a train to Llandudno after being spoken to by a train driver.

Dixon, of no fixed abode but who formerly lived at Ferry Bank in Garden City, admitted a charge of obstructing a train on January 21.

He was placed on a nine month conditional discharge and ordered to pay compensation of £212 to train company Transport for Wales.

He was also ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £20 surcharge.

Magistrates told Dixon he had caused inconvenience to rail users and was a danger to himself.

There had also been a potential danger to others if there had been an incident involving a train.

Prosecutor Rhian Jackson told North East Wales Magistrates Court the driver of the Llandudno to Chester 3.08pm service was a few minutes early and stopped at a signal box.

He was informed to approach the station slowly due to a report of a trespasser on the line.

The train proceeded with caution and on arrival at Shotton he brought the train to a halt and saw a young man on the opposite Llandudno bound platform.

He was sitting with his legs dangling off the platform.

A train approaching from the other direction would not be able to see him because of a bend in the track.

The driver of the parked train shouted to him: "Do you have a death wish or something? Get up."

But Dixon replied that he did and when warned that a fast train would be approaching he said: "I don't care."

The driver informed a signaller because he was concerned for the man's safety and requested British Transport Police officers to attend.

Interviewed, he accepted what he had done and said after speaking to the train driver he got a train to attend a probation appointment in Colwyn Bay.

Mrs Jackson said the Manchester Airport to Llandudno train had been delayed by 12 minutes, hence the compensation claim.

He had previous convictions for five offences and had been placed on a two year community order at Mold Crown Court in April of last year.

Solicitor Euros Jones, defending, said at the time his client was contemplating whether or not to end it all.

Following his earlier conviction he had lost his partner, he had not seen his child, his family had turned their back on him and he was homeless.

He had lost his mother and that day he was at his lowest ebb.

"Thankfully he didn't end it all," Mr Jones told the Mold court.

"Following a discussion with a train driver he got up."

It was his case that his legs were not dangling over the track but he accepted that he was causing an obstruction.

Mr Jones suggested that in the circumstances a conditional discharge would be appropriate.