A man gave a railway enforcement officer a “Glaswegian kiss” in a row over a train ticket, a court heard.

David Monk, 40, pleaded guilty to assault when he appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court.

Monk, of John Street, Rochester, got into an argument with a ticket attendant on February 28 at Rochester railway station over the price of a ticket to Gillingham.

He swore and said he wouldn’t be paying the £10.50 fare. Martin Brown, a railway enforcement officer, tried to calm the situation down, but Monk headbutted him on the nose.

When interviewed by police who arrested him at the scene he said: “I gave one of them a Glaswegian kiss.”

Matthew Quantrill, prosecuting, said: “There was no lasting injury barring a red mark.”

June Banfield, defending, said Monk couldn’t remember the incident. She added: “He states that he has been depressed for some time. He doesn’t have access to his children as they were adopted six years ago.”

Lawrence McVeigh, chairman of the bench, said: “You can’t attack people because you don’t want to pay the fare, you can’t take it out on people who are providing a public service.”

Monk was given a 12-month community order, ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £60 victim surcharge. He will also have to pay £50 compensation to Mr Brown.