A man who threatened to stab a 61-year-old ticket inspector in the neck has been jailed and banned from travelling on trains in Essex for five years.

Unemployed Scott Cootes, 25, formerly of Bowness Avenue, Didcot, was given an antisocial behaviour order (Asbo) after he was jailed for five months by Southend magistrates for common assault and public disorder.

The court heard Cootes hit a ticket inspector after swearing and behaving abusively on a train from London to Southend on September 1. Two days later he threatened to stab two members of railway staff at Wickford station, in Essex.

Cootes, who was already well known to rail staff and to British Transport Police, was later arrested.

The court heard he had more than 30 previous convictions for threatening behaviour and assault, including attacks on rail workers.