A TRESPASSER cost network rail £24,000 after causing eight hours of train delays as he fled from police.

  • Rikki Lee, of Finchley Road, Westcliff, initially stole his ex-partner’s Range Rover as well as a mobile phone following a blazing row.

The following day, Lee, 26, was spotted by police but jumped onto the train tracks at Pitsea station and fled in a bid to evade arrest.

Prosecuting Daniel Setter told the court a police helicopter was also launched in the search for Lee.

He said: “ On October 13 Essex Police identified Rikki Lee who was wanted for the earlier offences.

“Police tried to stop him but he ran onto the railway line at Pitsea Train Station and told police if they came any nearer he would kill himself.

“Police lost him and kept on searching for him and the trains had to be stopped for a total of 489 minutes and this cost Network Rail £24,704.

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​“He is 26 years old and has 11 convictions from 22 offences.”

After stealing his partner’s car, on October 12 last year, he returned it to his former partner but had caused £2,961 in damage.

He was not insured to drive the car and did not hold a licence.

Mitigating Michael Stranding said: “The relationship with the partner seemed to deteriorated and he got upset and left the home and got in the car in an emotional state.

Echo: Scene - Pitsea Train StationScene - Pitsea Train Station

“He’s asked me to apologise to his ex-partner and the public for the train delays.”

Sentencing Lee Judge Ian Graham said: “I am not satisfied the offences cross the custody threshold while they are unpleasant.”

He was handed a two year community order, 150 hours unpaid work, 50 days rehabilitation and banned from driving.