Lee Braham - **HAS LEFT**

Said the following about James Dobson:

“James was Train Manager on the 21:03 from London Euston to Wolverhampton.

James already had a nightmare journey inbound to London where at Wigan North Western around 200 football fans joined his train and created problems for him by punching light fixtures in the roof of the train.

The next service sat in Coach J in the companion seats was a young female. James had to ask for her ticket four times before it was produced. The third time of asking she jumped out of her skin, almost like she was scared.

The lady started to cry. He asked her “are you okay? You appear upset”. James intuition was there was more to the situation so he took the time to kneel in the isle alongside her to explain he was there to help and did she want to talk as she was evidently upset.

She went on to tell him that she was planning to end her life. He repeated what she said back to her to confirm this was the case and she said yes. He went on to ask her other questions about why she was going to Coventry (that’s where the ticket was for), who was she meeting, how long for etc. We made her a brew and gave her soft drinks to get her as comfortable as possible.

After having 10 minutes of conversation with this female they were just pulling into a station, his first calling point, pick up only. It was at this point he decided the right thing was to not go forward without seeking this female some help. James asked one of the crew members if she was happy to stay with the lady whilst he carried out some operational duties. James called the driver to explain the situation before making his way to the platform and displaying a red light to the dispatcher and filled her in on the details too.

Little did he know as he was still on the platform the female was beginning to become very agitated and began screaming on-board. An announcement was made for a doctor or nurse to attend, a mental health doctor made herself known.

Whilst still standing with platform staff he rang the control emergency line to advise of his situation and requested BTP and ambulance. James was then told to ask the lady to depart the train and leave her with the platform staff.

The female after a few minutes agreed to leave the train. By this time a London Overground driver travelling on his train had joined him. The female got onto the platform and began to glare at the train tracks. James immediately got the lady back onboard inside the safety of the train and then dispatched to another station. Staying with the female the whole time to MKC, James rang ahead for assistance.

It was then we believed the woman may have been sexually abused / trafficked, which in a follow up call after he left Watford Junction the BTP confirmed they were exploring this line of enquiry.

James saved a potential life that tonight and got this lady the help she desperately needed. He put up with those fans all the way from Wigan to Euston and still kept a cool head when it was need most.“