A SOUTHEASTERN railway worker from Erith who let an untrained friend stand in for him for weeks so he could study for a degree has avoided jail.

Train dispatcher Oluwaseun Oyesanya, 36, of Lime Row, allowed pal Olutoba Olubode to wave off services from station platforms even though he had no idea what he was doing.

The deception could have led to a crash and passenger deaths if a train had been cleared to leave Denmark Hill station at the wrong moment.

Dispatchers conduct safety checks before trains depart, and must undergo training and obtain a licence before working in the job.

Oyesanya admitted fraud and endangering the safety of persons on the railway but was spared jail at Blackfriars Crown Court last Monday.

Handing him an eight month sentence, suspended for two years, Judge John Hillen said: 'I suspect you didn't give it a great deal of thought at the time.

'What you did was an extremely serious criminal act, by your actions you put the travelling public in danger.

'This could have led to a collision, or as is more likely a passenger fatality.'

He suspended the sentence after hearing Oyensanya had no previous convictions and had pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates Court in March.

Family members prayed and clutched Bibles throughout the hearing, with his daughter breaking down in tears when he was released.

The ruse took place between October 15 and 27 last year.

In order to make a convincing show, he gave Olubode a fake ID badge, along with a personal crash course and a set of training books.

The scam went unnoticed until January this year when Oyesanya turned up at the station to go about renewing his licence.

Prosecutor Travers Sinan said: 'When his colleagues saw him, they realised something was wrong, because they saw this was not the man they had been working with.

'The train dispatcher is the eyes and ears of the driver. I need say nothing about the potential consequences of this offence - the impact for the community would be terrible.'

Francis Gaskin, defending, said: 'He made a colossal error in judgement which he deeply regrets.'

Oyesanya earned £240 from the scam, which could have put Southeastern at risk of criminal prosecution, the court heard.

In addition to the suspended jail term, Oyesanya was ordered to carry out 180 hours' unpaid work and pay £510 prosecution costs.

He admitted fraud by false representation, which relates to his wages, and endangering the safety of persons conveyed by railway.

The court was told Olobode is currently being investigated and could also face prosecution