A LABOURER who punched a Tube worker at Swiss Cottage has been jailed and ordered to pay compensation to his victim. On August 19 last year Rodrique Apula, 22, who worked in the Swiss Cottage area entered the Tube station with three other men and pushed t

A LABOURER who punched a Tube worker at Swiss Cottage has been jailed and ordered to pay compensation to his victim.

On August 19 last year Rodrique Apula, 22, who worked in the Swiss Cottage area entered the Tube station with three other men and pushed the emergency stop button on the escalator.

When a member of staff, who wished to remain anonymous, asked the men what they were doing, Apula and one of the other men began swearing before Apula punched the victim in the ribs.

The men fled on the Jubilee Line but were eventually tracked down by British Transport Police.

PC Joanne Drake, one of the investigating officers said: "Why Apula felt he had the right to assault a member of staff who was simply doing his job is inconceivable.

"The member of staff was perfectly within his rights to ask why the escalator had been needlessly stopped. This clearly agitated Apula and he resorted to violence.

"The large majority of people use the Tube to go about their daily business, but we want to make sure that anyone who has any other intentions knows what they can expect from us."

Apula, from Plaistow was jailed for six weeks and ordered to pay �250 compensation to the victim at Westminster Magistrates Court on March 18.