Crieff woman in rail line incident

Nov 6 2009 by Les Stewart, Strathearn Herald

A 27-YEAR-OLD Crieff woman, high on a cocktail of alcohol and valium, climbed over a fence near PerthStation and stood in the middle of the main railway line in and out of the city.

And when Joanne Mayor was spotted by British Transport Police, she ran towards the Moncreiffe Tunnel before stripping to the waist and waving her arms in the air.

Perth Sheriff Court was told that Mayor, of Sauchie Terrace, had little memory of the incident, described as “bizarre” by Sheriff G.P. MacMillan.

She pled guilty to committing a breach of the peace on the track, near Perth Signal Box, on October 29.

A not guilty plea to a second charge of biting British Transport Policeman Derek Hamilton on the arm was accepted by the prosecution.

Depute fiscal Julie McAra said that a Network Rail employee spotted her scaling the fence near the main Edinburgh and Glasgow railway lines.

She made her way down the line towards the tunnel and he contacted the police. When they arrived on the scene, the accused was still on the track.

On seeing the officers, she made her way “at speed” towards the tunnel.

“They pursued her on foot and, before reaching the tunnel, she stopped in the middle of the tracks, stripped to the waist and started waving her arms over her head.

“She was advised to get dressed and go to a place of safety. She was incoherent and slurring her words,” added the depute fiscal.

Solicitor Christine Higgins said that the accused has a “long history” of drug misuse, including heroin and solvents, which had led to a chaotic lifestyle.

Mayor had been at a friend’s that day and had taken valium and alcohol.

She had been receiving support from the Tayside Substance Misuse Team and there had been a “dramatic reduction” in her offending.

“She’s a vulnerable individual who is trying to sort herself out,” added Ms Higgins.

Sheriff MacMillan described the accused’s record as “horrendous” but said he was prepared to call for background reports.

She will return to court for sentence on November 25 and she was allowed her freedom meantime.