'White knight' ended up in court after defending woman who was being abused on Metro in Sunderland

An inebriated “white knight” overstepped the mark when defending the honour of a woman being verbally abused by youths, a court heard.
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Robert Rafferty, 32, of Tatham House, in Sunderland city centre, intervened as a Metro train moved between stations on Friday, December 13, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard.

But after the train pulled in, a fight broke out at Market Square, Sunderland, and police were called.

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Magistrates were told Rafferty swore and would not desist when officers tried to deal with the original troublemaker - and was arrested for being drunk and disorderly.

The incident happened on the Tyne and Wear Metro in Sunderland.The incident happened on the Tyne and Wear Metro in Sunderland.
The incident happened on the Tyne and Wear Metro in Sunderland.

Prosecutor Paul Anderson said: “Police get a report of a fight. They find a number of youths in the vicinity and the police speak to Mr Rafferty. He is shouting and swearing.

“He is warned by police about his language. He persists until such time as police lock him up for being drunk and disorderly.”

The court heard Rafferty has 16 convictions for 37 previous offences, including being given a conditional discharge late last year.

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Jason Smith, defending, said: “It is what it is. He was between stations on the Metro system and someone was causing a great deal of discomfort to a young lady, he didn’t like it much.

“The police asked him to go away while they sort out the issue with the third party. He goes over the top, he accepts that he was drunk and disorderly.

“He would say that he was trying to act as a white knight for the young lady who was wronged.”

Rafferty, who pleaded guilty to a charge of being drunk and disorderly, was fined £40 with £85 court costs and a £32 victim surcharge.