A CARPENTER who pushed a woman onto a live rail track after a row about him smoking has been sentenced to four years in prison.

Ionel Rapisca, of Joyce Green Lane, Dartford, was found guilty of GBH and sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court today.

The 33-year-old shoved Linda Buchanan at Farningham Road train station in August 2008.

Sentencing him, Judge Charles MacDonald said: “An element of deterrent must be used in my sentence.

“This is rail rage, the court will do what it can to protect passengers from potential lethal attacks.

“To suggest you are remorseful is hypocrisy.”

Thomas MacKinnon, mitigating, said Rapisca had given up smoking as a result of the incident.

Ms Buchanan, a senior managment consultant, had rowed with Rapisca at the station about smoking in the days leading up to the incident.

Ms Buchanan, of Westminster Court in Horton Kirby, had told him: “I don’t like the smell of cancer.”

On August 6, 2008, Rapisca blew a raspberry at Ms Buchanan as she walked past him, and she told him to “grow up”.

Rapisca then pushed the 59-year-old mother-of-three onto the tracks, and she landed inches away from the live electric rail.

Witnesses saw Rapisca and his brother-in-law then climb down and help Ms Buchanan off the tracks before running away.

She suffered a fractured wrist, a bruised leg, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression as a result of the incident.

The jury found Rapisca not guilty of another charge of GBH with intent in relation to the incident.

After the verdict was announced, Ms Buchanan's daughter, 39-year-old Helene Buchanan-Dunne, read a statement on her behalf.

Ms Buchanan wrote: "I'm delighted with the result of the court case today and glad to have closure after 18 months.

"My intention was only ever to politely explain to Mr Rapisca that it is against the law to smoke at this station and I remain incredibly shocked this resulted in such an unprovoked attack of violence.

"I want to thank everyone for their support and well wishes during this time.

"I especially want to thank the British Transport Police who were incredible in their search to bring this person to justice and for their support.

"This has had a major impact on my life and I now look forward to moving on to the next chapter."