Bob Crow's assault case union boss: I'm a political victim

A union chief convicted of assaulting a Tube worker who crossed a picket line claimed today the charge against him was "politically motivated".

Steve Hedley, London regional organiser of the RMT and union leader Bob Crow's right-hand man, was fined £200 for attacking Jeremy Wall at Mile End station during a 24-hour strike.

Hundreds of union members walked out last September, causing major travel chaos. Hedley was on a picket line outside the station when Mr Wall tried to cross it to get to work.

A scuffle broke out and Hedley was accused of pushing Mr Wall in the chest, which he denied. He was convicted of assault at Westminster magistrates' court but says he intends to appeal.

He claimed today that he had been trying to speak to Mr Wall about the dangers of opening stations without a sufficient number of staff during a strike.

He told the Standard: "He wasn't crossing a picket line, he was already at work... it was at the station entrance. There was a picket line about 10 feet away. The station was being kept open under numbers, there were only two people there instead of three. I believe it is politically motivated.

"I am a 42-year-old man, I don't go around assaulting people. I feel absolutely disgusted about it. I think the magistrates have a lot to answer for.

"There were three witnesses in court who affirmed my side of the story, so what happened was incredible."

On top of his conviction, Hedley was ordered to pay £25 in victim's compensation, £15 for victim's surcharge and £500 to cover prosecution costs.

There were four 24-hour Tube strikes last year as the RMT opposed plans to cut 800 jobs across the network.

Hedley is not employed by Transport for London but is contracted directly to the union.

A TfL spokesman said: "Assaulting our staff, who are simply trying to do their jobs, is something we take extremely seriously.

"We will continue to work with the Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police to ensure that people who commit such acts are brought before the courts."