A DISGRACED magistrates' clerk faces the sack after being convicted of using threatening behaviour towards a train driver because he missed his stop.

Stephen Keith Hancock, (pictured) 33, of Alexandra Street, Ebbw Vale, and Detective Constable Steven Hughes, 29, of North Street, Abergavenny, were cleared at Worcester crown court of endangering the safety of passengers travelling on a railway and racially-aggravated threatening words and behaviour towards driver Stuart Pritchard. But Hancock, a qualified solicitor, was fined £500 after being found guilty of a lesser charge of threatening behaviour.

His barrister, Susan Ferrier, said it could signal the end of his legal career. His bosses had warned him before the trial that in the event of a conviction disciplinary action would result and it was likely "he could lose his job".

After the case Sergeant Peter Anderson, of Gwent Police complaints and discipline department, said DC Hughes and the force had co-operated throughout. He said "misconduct procedures will now be considered" .

Hancock boarded the 21.50 Wales & West service at Cardiff to Hereford after spending the day in Cardiff, consuming over seven pints as he watched Wales play Samoa, on November 11, 2000.

Mr Pritchard had told the court the two men threw abuse at him while banging on the cabin door as the train was travelling towards Hereford.

He claimed he had to leave his controls for a quarter of a mile, before bringing it to an emergency stop near Pandy, Abergavenny.

Hancock carried out a threat to the driver that he would send a letter condemning his behaviour to his superiors.

This, prosecutor Philip Matthews said, was an attempt to "get the retaliation in first". Both denied the offences, claiming the exit doors had not opened at Abergavenny, but the driver refused to listen and drove off.

DC Hughes admitted drinking eight pints of Guinness during the day but denied his memory of the journey was clouded by drink.

He told the court he did not use racist language, stating he found it "abhorrent". Gwent Police Superintendent Andrew Mackian said DC Hughes was a man with an unblemished disciplinary record.

Sentencing Hancock, Judge Michael Mott said: "Coming from someone in your position, your behaviour was probably even more disgraceful than someone with fewer advantages and in a lesser position in life."