A 36-year-old war veteran who deliberately blocked a railway line with his car near Burton-Upon-Trent, Staffs, has been jailed.
Jonathan Mather left the vehicle just minutes before a train travelling at 100 mph was approaching the Claymills level crossing last year.
Around 40 passengers escaped injury when the train smashed into the car causing more than £500,000 worth of damage.
At Stafford Crown Court, Mather was jailed for 56 months for the railway incident and must serve a further 12 months as part of a previous suspended prison sentence imposed for offences of dishonesty.
Passing sentence Judge Mark Eades described the incident as a “terrible crime” which had threatened the safety of people going about their daily business using trains travelling at high speeds.
VIDEO: Moment 100mph train smashes into car deliberately parked on railway line