A TRAIN driver's life fell apart after he could only watch helplessly as his engine killed a boy on the tracks, a court heard yesterday.

Stephen Douglas suffers vivid flashbacks, had to leave his job, lost his partner and home and turned to alcohol to cope with the trauma.

He appeared at Teesside Crown Court after brandishing a samurai sword in the street following a row with a neighbour in Darlington.

The 50-year-old was given a suspended three-month prison sentence with supervision, and was told by a judge: "Yours is a very tragic tale."

Prosecutor David Crook told the court how drunken Douglas clashed with a neighbour in Stocksmoor Close on a January afternoon this year.

Mr Crook said the men exchanged "unimaginative abuse" and Douglas yelled at the other man: "I've been done for f*****g murder before."

After throwing away the sword, he shouted: "Come on then. I'll f*****g kill you . . . I've spent too long in the army to be scared of you."

Judge Peter Bowers said "in rugby terms, it's called handbags" but told Douglas: "I've got to take a fairly firm view about anyone who carries or uses a weapon in public."

He said: "This was a drunken over-reaction by you to an argument with a neighbour . . . anything like this again, and you'll of to prison."

John Taylor, mitigating, told the judge: "He has always expressed remorse."

He added that Douglas had lost five stone since the railway accident ten years ago, and has received treatment for mental health problems.

He told Judge Bowers the driver could do nothing as the youngster tried to jump off the line but tripped and fell in front of the train.

"He can recall, almost millisecond by millisecond what happened," said Mr Taylor. "Within a year, he left work and disintegrated mentally.

"Gradually, his life has declined . . . up until 2004, he was in a good job and had worked since the age of 16 . . . his physical health has deteriorated.

"He had a partner, a good job, a good income and a full range of hobbies and activities like golf, cycling and backpacking around Europe.

"When the offence came to light, he went to live with one of his brothers, but he would propose to return to his own home.

"As far as he is concerned, the incident is over. He has no intention whatsoever of threatening anyone in that area. He is deeply ashamed."