Fare Dodger Turns Violent on Nottingham Tram Staff
On Boxing Day 2022, chaos erupted at Nottingham’s Forest Recreation Ground tram stop. Salmou Njie, 30, lost his temper, shouting at a tram driver. Travel officers, cracking down on fare dodgers, confronted him about his behaviour.
Aggression Sparks Assault and Chase
Rather than calming down, Njie turned nasty. He kicked a staff member in the back of the knee and tried to grab her neck before making a run for it. Despite efforts to de-escalate, things quickly turned violent.
Caught, Charged, and Sentenced for Assault and Drugs
Njie, from Cairo Road, Old Basford, was tracked down by police and arrested. Officers found a small bag of cannabis on him. At Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on 24 April 2023, he admitted possession of cannabis and was found guilty of assault by beating.
On top of that, Njie was convicted for two previous cannabis possession offences from January 2023 and August 2022. He also failed to surrender to custody twice.
He received a 26-week custodial sentence – a clear warning to anyone thinking of attacking public service workers.
Strong Words from Tram Boss and Police
“We simply will not tolerate any abusive behaviour towards our employees who work tirelessly to provide a valuable public service,” said Chris Wright, Managing Director of Nottingham Trams Limited.
“Fortunately, nobody was seriously hurt, but assaults leave lasting scars. We will always seek justice for our staff.”
Sergeant Richard Hunter of Nottinghamshire Police added: “We work closely with NET to keep trams safe, sharing CCTV and running regular operations to deter crime.
“This assault was unwarranted and thankfully Njie has been brought to justice. Let his sentence be a warning to others – this behaviour won’t be tolerated.”
