Gareth Jones was attacked at Prestatyn railway station

Gareth Jones, 41, from Colwyn Bay suffered a fractured skull when he was hit over the head with a rock.

On Monday, Kyle Thomas Gilmour, 17, was named and shamed by Judge Stephen Clarke for his part in the attack at Prestatyn railway station.

Meanwhile, a public meeting has been organised to discuss the safety issue.

I'm appalled by the lack of security, there's no one there, a driver and that's it, you could be sat on a train and you could be murdered Gareth Jones

Mr Jones was attacked last October after he asked a group of seven teenagers to stop vandalising Prestatyn station.

He suffered a fractured skull and needed 20 stitches in his head. He also had the top third of his ear sliced off.

"I told them to pack it in, to be blunt they attacked me and smashed me over the head with a rock and whilst I was down hit me on the side of the head with a bottle," he recalled.

The office manager has not been on a train since and says he will not travel on onr until security at stations and on the trains is improved.

Sitting at Mold Crown Court, Judge Clark said Mr Jones had become a victim of "yob culture".

Anti-social behaviour

Gilmour, aged 16 at the time of the attack and high on alcohol and ecstasy had admitted wounding at a previous hearing.

Judge Clark said the defendant should be publicly named in the media and he was sentenced to a two-year detention and training order.

Meanwhile, there is growing concern that Wales' railways are becoming a hotbed of crime, with passengers, staff and communities around stations falling victim to anti-social behaviour.

With this in mind, the Rail Passengers Committee for Wales has organised a public meeting in Wrexham.

Mr Jones, still recovering from his attack admits something needs to be done to make railways and trains safer.

"I'm appalled by the lack of security, there's no one there, a driver and that's it, you could be sat on a train and you could be murdered and nobody would know, it's appalling it really is," he said.

However, British Transport Police say the North Wales Coast Line remains one of the safest in Britain.

They believe many people have a perception that local railway stations and trains are worse than they really are.

But Sergeant Andy Hemmings acknowledges that anti-social behaviour, particularly by teenagers, is getting worse on the rail network.

"The main problem is more low level anti-social behaviour by young people," he said.

"We do try and carry out patrols but the train crew and conductors are generally on their own."

There are three British Transport police officers covering north Wales, two short of the normal compliment of five.

It is hoped Tuesday's meeting will find a way forward.