Passengers flee as youths let dangerous dogs loose on busy train

Commuters fled in terror after two fighting dogs were let loose in a carriage following a fight between rival teenagers, a court heard.

Ricardo Miles, 18, and Daniel Ikumelo, 19, caused chaos on a packed train bound for London in November when they attacked a younger rival following an earlier confrontation. Christopher Prior, prosecuting, said the pair threw "a number of kicks and punches".

The victim, who was seen running down the carriage with a cut to his face, called friends after another passenger pulled the emergency cord. Two other youths turned up at Stamford Hill station in Hackney and let "pitbull-type" dogs loose in the carriage.

A passenger was bitten during the mayhem and Miles's arm was mauled before the dogs were called off.

Miles and Ikumelo were caught after going to hospital, Southwark crown court heard. They admitted affray and were given community orders and suspended four-month jail terms. The youth they attacked and the pair with dogs escaped.

Judge Deborah Taylor said: "Members of the public fled from the carriage out of fear and distress as to what was happening."