A TROUBLED man walked off a station platform and down the tracks “to take his own life” a court has been told.

James Tasker, 27, of no fixed address, was found by officers from British Transport Police talking to the driver of a train near Evesham, after setting off from Worcester on foot on Monday, July 2.

Kerry Lovegrove, prosecuting at Worcester Magistrates Court, said police “were called to reports of a man sat on the tracks in front of a First Great Western train.

“They found him and he was on tracks talking to the train’s driver.

"Speaking to police, he was at first uncooperative but agreed to be taken to hospital.

“He was assessed and at that stage, his mental health was not severe enough to warrant sectioning and so he was arrested.”

Magistrates were told 34 train services – a total of six hours worth – were delayed, at a cost in penalties to the rail infrastructure operation Network Rail of £18,000 in fines.

“The defendant admits being at Foregate Street station and walking off the platform and was depressed and wanted to end his life,” said Miss Lovegrove.

Jason Patel, in mitigation, said his client was struggling with depression and did not want bail, meaning he was remanded in custody until sentencing.

He said a train had set out from Shrub Hill station in Worcester “and was told to proceed with caution” because Tasker had been spotted.

“The driver spotted him on the track, stopped, got out and said he appeared ‘frightened, scared and upset’,” said Mr Patel.

“They had a talk, got to Evesham (by train) and that’s where he met with police.”

He said Tasker had “a number of pertinent personal circumstances” which caused him to act.

Tasker admitted an unlawful act on the rail line, holding up a train, and was remanded to appear at magistrates on Wednesday, July 18.