Man sentenced after jumping into water during train surfing stunt

Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Authorities in Britain said a young daredevil was issued a suspended prison sentence after he filmed himself jumping into the water from a moving train.

British Transport Police said Ricky Brewer, 18, appeared Dec. 18 in Westminster Magistrates' Court and pleaded guilty to one charge of endangering the safety of a person conveyed on the railway.

Brewer had been charged after a video he posted to YouTube in September showed him and another suspect climbing atop a DLR train at the Heron Quays station in London and jumping from the moving train into the water.

Brewer was sentenced Dec. 18 to a 12-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months. He was ordered to attend an 18 month Rehabilitation Activity Requirement, complete 150 hours of community service and pay a $114 fine with a $154 victim surcharge.

"Without care for his own safety, Brewer jumped from that train into the water and the fall could have easily killed or caused him serious injury," British Transport Police Constable Victoria Callaghan said.

"Every day our officers experience tragedy on the railway. If Brewer knew the heartbreak and sadness we experience when we tell a family that their loved one has been killed, I am sure he wouldn't have put himself in such danger.

I am very pleased with the sentence handed down on Monday. I hope he realizes the danger he put himself and others in.

This is the second successful recent prosecution BTP has had against so called 'train surfers.' Quite frankly, this behavior is stupid and I would like to send the clear message that it will not be tolerated. We will work tirelessly to ensure this behavior is stopped, otherwise it will only be a matter of time before someone is killed or seriously injured."