A violent thug was jailed for a year today (Friday

A violent thug was jailed for a year today (Friday) after battering an London Underground official when challenged over fare dodging.

Paul Dunn hit out when stopped trying to ‘tailgate’ through ticket barriers at Aldgate Station in the City last November.

And a court heard how it was his third conviction for assaulting employees of London Transport after being caught trying to ride the rails for free.

London’s Southwark Crown Court heard that Dunn resorted to violence when in ‘confrontational’ situations – but was ready to undergo ‘anger management’ training and also to begin a computer course at a Bethnal Green college in computing.

But sentencing, Recorder William Blair, QC, said: ‘You have been convicted of assaulting a London Transport employee.

‘The circumstances are that you tried to get through the barrier without a ticket and when the employee tried to stop you, you punched him in the face injuring his eye.

‘However, your victim has reported he suffers from continuing stress, which is not surprising given your behaviour.

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And the judge said it was not an isolated incident – Dunn had a long history of violent offending ‘and two incidents of violence when challenged over travelling without a ticket.

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He said only a custodial sentence could be justified.

‘This was a quite unprovoked and quite unpleasant attack on a London Transport employee.

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Last month, a jury found the 30-year-old of Sycamore Gardens, Hammersmith, guilty of assaulting Kashef Butt occasioning actual bodily harm on November 24, last year.

During a two day trial the defendant maintained he was acting in self-defence after first being punched by his victim, but his account was not believed by the panel.

‘Dunn was trying to evade a fare using a technique known as double gating, getting close to someone who has bought a ticket and trying to get through while the gate is open,’ said prosecutor Michael Logsdon.

He said Mr Butt, a member of the station staff, noticed what was going on and caught hold of Dunn.

‘Dunn turned around an pushed Mr Butt in the chest to get him away and then struck him in the left eye with a punch.

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Later seen at the famous Moorfield Eye Hospital, it was noted that Mr Butt had swelling around the eye and an abrasion to the cornea.

Mr Logsdon said after striking his victim, Dunn pulled a pair of broken spectacles from his pocket – still containing pieces of broken glass – and waved them in Mr Butt’s face shouting: ‘Come on then you Paki.

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However, the court heard, at that point police arrived, alerted by another member of staff.

When interviewed, Dunn admitted he was trying to dodge fares and confirmed his victim had ‘good reason’ to intervene.

But he claimed the member of staff then punched him in the stomach and he struck back in self-defence.

He told officers: ‘I haven’t done anything wrong.

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ends