Teen boys who filmed death-defying 'train surfing' stunt for YouTube video are sentenced

Two teens have pleaded guilty after they filmed themselves climbing between train carriages and 'train-surfing' while the passenger vehicle moved at high speed.

Harris Ahmed, 18, of The Warren, Manor Park, and a 16-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons, both appeared before Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court on Monday (20 November).

They were each charged with one count of endangering the safety of a person conveyed on the railway.

The incident was first reported to British Transport Police on 31 October when officers were made aware of footage which showed the two boys climbing in between the carriages on a TfL Rail service in Essex.

The footage, which was uploaded to YouTube, shows the boys clinging onto the train as it travelled along, which could have resulted in their deaths.

Inspector Steve Webster from British Transport Police, said: "These pranksters risked their lives in making this reckless YouTube video. It isn't impressive, it is stupid. I am stunned that people still think that so-called train surfing is a clever idea, when every day our force sees tragedy on the railway.

"The last thing we ever want to do is visit a family to inform them their loved one has been killed by dangerously climbing on top of a train or otherwise trespassing on the railway. The railway is a dangerous environment and can be fatal."

Ahmed was handed a twelve month community order and ordered to pay £105 victim surcharge. The 16-year-old was handed a four-month referral order and ordered to pay a £105 victim surcharge.

Inspector Webster added: "At one point in the video, you can see that the two boys foolishly lean above the train as it travels at high speed. This puts them dangerously close to the overhead power lines, which carry 25,000 volts of electricity. A disaster was very narrowly avoided during this stunt.

"I hope this sentence sends a very clear message that we will not tolerate this behaviour and we will work hard to identify offenders and bring them before the courts, in order to prevent and deter further offending of this nature."