Hunt for man who was caught on camera hitting golf balls at station

The man was filmed at Sunderland’s South Hylton Metro station, placing balls on the platform and then smashing them up the track.

He then caught a Metro to Pallion and, when he got off, he hit some more shots before urinating on a cycle rack.

The golfer was carrying a bag of clubs and was with another man, two women and young children, at 11.20pm on Saturday May 25, officers said.

Pc Mark Bradwell said: “While it may seem that the man was simply having a bit of fun, in reality this kind of behaviour is very dangerous.

“Fortunately, none of the golf balls hit any trains or passengers on this occasion, but the consequences could have been far worse had that been the case.

“The railway is a dangerous environment with moving trains and electric currents. It is certainly not a playground.”

A Metro spokesman said: “Behaviour of this nature on the Metro system is totally unacceptable and extremely rare.”

Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT union which represents Metro staff, said: “This dangerous and shocking incident shows once again how transport services are at risk of degenerating into some sort of playground for those who could not care less about the safety of staff or of their fellow passengers.

“The incident also reinforces RMT’s call for increased staffing and security on the Tyne and Wear Metro to help clamp down on the kind of dangerous and often criminal behaviour that blights this important transport service.”