THE 'unbelieveable bravery' of passengers and a train driver have been praised after wading in to detain a man wielding a machete.

The passengers were on board a Virgin Train service from Newcastle to Darlington at 11.20pm April 6 when they were faced with the terrifying incident.

The man, Aleksander Maksym, has now been jailed for 12 months.

Maksym, 25, of Grange Road in Ipswich, was sitting in coach E when he got up from his seat and began to threaten a group of passengers who were sat nearby.

British Transport Police say he targeted the man within the group and began to attack him.

Two fellow passengers, a man and a woman, then jumped into action and grabbed Maksym, pulling him off the man and restraining him.

When he continued to be aggressive and fought to get back to the man he had attacked, the passengers who had now been joined by two others, formed a human barrier across the carriage to stop him.

Maksymthen grabbed his rucksack and pulled out a 10ins machete while shouting ‘ I’m gonna slice them up’ .

Two of the passengers bravely managed to distract him, while one grabbed his arm and restrained him, allowing the other to grab the machete.

The train stopped at Darlington and the police were called.

Aware of the commotion, the train driver came into the carriage and assisted in restraining him until officers arrived and arrested him.

Maksym, who pleaded guilty, was sentenced at Teesside Crown Court on September 7 to 12 months imprisonment and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £140.

Inspector Richard Price, of the BTP, said: “The passengers and train driver showed unbelievable bravery in what must have been a petrifying and frightening incident.

"I would like to thank and commend them for their amazing quick thinking actions and fantastic team work which ensured the safety of everyone on the train.

“The service was really busy with a number of large groups of youths returning from a music concert. A number of which understandably fled the carriage in fear when the incident unfolded.

“The whole incident must have been extremely terrifying experience for everyone involved and everyone who witnessed it, and I am glad Maksym is now behind bars where he belongs.”

  • Were you one of the passengers involved or did you see it? Email newsdesk@nne.co.uk or call 01325-505065