A FAMILY of drunken louts have been sent to jail for train hooliganism and fighting police on the platform of York Railway Station.

The Cartwright family were so aggressive towards conductor Mark Tucker that he had to take refuge in the train's cab, against regulations, to get away from them, said Suzanne Smales, prosecuting at York Crown Court, sitting in Teesside.

When police ordered the family off the 16.47 train from Scarborough at York, child care worker Natalie Cartwrght, 20, kicked PC Michael Provins in the face and her father, David, 50, jumped on the back of PC Stephen Borszowski and grabbed his neck. The two policemen were already fighting with her brothers, Craig, 27, and Christopher, 24.

The family so overwhelmed the officers, members of the public had to call in police reinforcements to help. Both officers had to go to hospital for treatment afterwards.

Passengers on the train told officers they were also intimidated by the family's actions during the journey between Seamer and York on June 11.

The Honorary Recorder of York, Judge Paul Hoffman, said: "It was drunken, it was loutish, it was violent. There must be a custodial sentence to send out the message this sort of behaviour in public places will not be tolerated."

He jailed the father for 15 months and the sons for 12 months. He locked up the daughter for a week while he decides her punishment.

Her barrister, Geraldine Kelly, said she had been acting as peacemaker on the train, trying to calm down her male relatives and the conviction would seriously hamper her career in child care.

All four admitted unlawful violence. The father, David Cartwright, of Sheepridge Road, Huddersfield, and Craig Cartwright, of Burfitt Road, Huddersfield, also admitted a public order offence. Natalie and Christopher Cartwright live with their father.

Barristers for the men said they had behaved out of character. For the father, Nicholas Barker said they had been to the funeral of David Cartwright's own father in difficult circumstances and then to a pub.

Mrs Smales said the family appeared drunk and were carrying lager cans when they boarded the train. They swore at Mr Tucker when he tried to help them find seats. After Malton, Craig Cartwright blocked his path as Mr Tucker was checking tickets and both he and his father were so aggressive towards him. He phoned police from the cab.

Updated: 10:18 Monday, February 21, 2005