Man who tried to murder toddler in Glasgow by stepping in front of moving train jailed

A man found guilty of attempting to murder a toddler by stepping in front of a moving train while holding him has been jailed for ten years.

Frederick Danquah assaulted the two-year-old at Glasgow’s Garrowhill train station on July 2, 2023.

The 28-year-old was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday, having been found guilty last month.

He had lodged a special defence at his trial that he had a mental illness and was unable to appreciate his actions at the time.

Danquah placed the boy on his shoulders as the train struck them both, which put them in hospital.

The court heard that the train struck Danquah and the boy just before 7.20pm.

The boy sustained surface wounds to his forehead, head, back, face and nose, which he has now recovered from.

Danquah suffered fractures to his lower spine and his jaw.

The court heard on Wednesday that he was deemed to have an “adjustment disorder”, but was not at a level which absolved him of being criminally responsible.

Gary Allan KC, defending, said Danquah continues to need help with prison “frightening the living daylights out of him” including him having been physically assaulted.

The advocate said what happened was “wholly out of character”.

Mr Allan said: “He has asked me to state how sorry he is that he put the child in the position that he did.”

Sentencing, Judge Tony Kelly said he had read an emotional impact statement from the boy’s mum.

He told Danquah: “The affect on his mother is profound. She is deeply affected.

“She said she felt overwhelmed. She still suffers constant anxiety.”

The judge added: “You endangered the life of the boy. You intended to take his life.

“You meant to have his mother to attend his funeral.”

Members of Danquah’s family broke down in tears as he was led handcuffed to the cells.

DCI Marc Francey of British Transport Police said: “Danquah’s actions that day were incomprehensible. He deliberately put a young child’s life in extreme danger, and it is only through sheer luck that he wasn’t seriously injured or killed. We could have easily been looking at a very different investigation.

“I am pleased to say that the child, now aged four, is doing well, and his family now wants to put this matter behind them and focus on their future. We would ask that their privacy is respected.

“Incidents like this are rare, but nevertheless, we will always hold offenders to account, and Danquah will now be spending the foreseeable future behind bars where he’ll have plenty of time to consider his abhorrent actions.”

Help and support is available now if you need it.

The Samaritans can be contacted any time, from any phone, free on 116 123, email at jo@samaritans.org, or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch. Details of other services and more information can be found on the NHS website here.