PASSENGERS on a speeding train watched in horror as a man allegedly smashed the windows before leaping out on to the tracks and being chased by police into the sea.

The alleged incident on the Edinburgh to Dunbar train is said to have happened as it approached Belhaven at about 50 miles an hour.

It is claimed the man used a fire extinguisher to shatter the glass of the windows, before jumping from the moving train shortly after 8pm last Thursday.

Richard Critchlow, 39, from London, appeared in Haddington Sheriff Court this week charged with smashing the carriage windows of the moving train with a fire extinguisher, before jumping through them onto the tracks.

The charge alleges that Critchlow leapt from the train as it travelled towards Dunbar at 50mph.

It then claims he ran down the tracks and onto Belhaven Beach, where he was pursued by police officers.

It is alleged he was detained after running into the sea in an alleged attempt to avoid the chasing officers.

Critchlow, of Streatham Hill, denied committing a breach of the peace and placing passengers and staff on the train in a state of fear and alarm, on Thursday, July 17, by smashing the windows of the carriage, causing glass to shower the inside of the carriage, before jumping from the moving train.

He also denied a charge of trespassing on the railway dangerously close to the East Coast Main Line.

And he pleaded not guilty to a third charge which stated: “Having jumped from a moving train you did run along the railway line onto the beach and did attempt to evade pursuing police officers by running into the sea, in an attempt to pervert the course of justice.” Critchlow was remanded in custody and will reappear in Haddington Sheriff Court on August 7.

A British Transport Police spokesman said: “A man was arrested following an incident on the Glasgow to Newcastle train on Thursday, July 17.

“He was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for assessment and has appeared in Haddington Sheriff Court.”