On a seemingly ordinary evening at Hyndland Station in Glasgow, the lives of two young people collided in a way neither could have anticipated. On April 20, 2024, 19-year-old Andrew Wason, who had absconded from Gartnavel Hospital where he was being treated for mental health issues, approached 20-year-old Sophie Scott as she waited for a delayed 6:25 PM train. What happened next would leave a deep imprint on all involved, raising difficult questions about mental illness, public safety, and the limits of the justice system.
According to ChronicleLive and NationalWorld, CCTV footage shown in court captured the chilling moment: Wason, after pacing the platform, stood behind Scott and, at the precise moment a train was about to pass, forcefully pushed her with both hands between her shoulders onto the tracks. The footage also showed Scott’s desperate scramble to safety, just managing to pull herself out of harm’s way as the train driver slammed the brakes and put the train into emergency mode. The incident, which could have ended in tragedy, instead became a harrowing tale of survival.
Advocate depute Chris McKenna recounted in court that Scott, in the seconds after being pushed, believed she was “going to die.” She had been waiting for the late-running train, unaware of the danger that was about to unfold behind her. McKenna described how Wason waited until the “precise moment” the train was about to pass before acting, emphasizing the calculated nature of the act despite Wason’s mental health struggles.
After the incident, a quick-thinking member of the public gave chase as Wason fled back to Gartnavel Hospital, alerting the police and ensuring he was apprehended. The community’s swift response was crucial in the immediate aftermath, but the shockwaves from the attack would reverberate for months to come.
On April 29, 2024, at the High Court in Glasgow, Wason pleaded guilty to a single charge of attempted murder. The court heard evidence that Wason had been receiving treatment at Gartnavel Hospital for significant mental health problems but had managed to leave the facility unsupervised. Psychiatric reports presented during the proceedings painted a picture of a young man deeply troubled, with treatment-resistant psychotic symptoms. Dr. Geraldine Scullin, a psychiatrist who testified in court, stated that Wason had been residing at the State Hospital in South Lanarkshire for about a year and a half, receiving 24/7 nursing care and a variety of medications.
“Unfortunately, he still presents with quite significant psychotic symptoms, which would lead me to conclude that his condition is treatment-resistant,” Dr. Scullin told the court, as reported by NationalWorld. This assessment was echoed in a separate psychiatric evaluation, which found a clear link between Wason’s mental state and the violent act. According to his solicitor, Allan MacLeod, the report concluded that at the time of the offence, Wason “appeared unable to resist violent thoughts and exert self-control over his actions.” The evaluation also determined that Wason was aware his actions were wrong but “he was compelled to do it because of his mental illness.”
The legal response to the incident reflected the complexity of balancing justice, public safety, and compassion for those suffering from severe mental illness. On October 13, 2025, Judge Lord Matthews imposed compulsion and restriction orders on Wason, requiring his indefinite detention in a psychiatric hospital. These orders, used when someone commits an offence punishable by imprisonment but is found to have a mental disorder, ensure that Wason will remain in a secure medical facility for as long as he poses a risk to himself or others.
In delivering his ruling, Lord Matthews did not mince words about the impact of Wason’s actions. “The effect of Wason’s actions on both Ms Scott and the train driver had been horrible,” he said. He went on to express relief that Scott had managed to escape the train’s path, adding, “I hope, in time, she is able to recover and start to lead a normal life.” Lord Matthews emphasized that he had “carefully considered all the psychiatric reports,” which showed Wason was “significantly unwell at the time and now.”
The judge also addressed Wason directly, urging him to engage fully with his treatment: “You are a young man with your life before you and must not think you are just being locked up and the key being thrown away.” Wason, who appeared in court dressed in a green and black tracksuit top and dark trousers, reportedly showed no emotion as the orders were handed down.
The court proceedings provided a window into the challenges faced by the mental health system in managing patients with severe, treatment-resistant conditions. Dr. Scullin’s testimony highlighted the difficulties in predicting when, or if, someone like Wason might be safely reintegrated into society. When asked by MacLeod whether there was hope for Wason’s eventual reintegration, Dr. Scullin replied affirmatively but cautioned, “It is very difficult to put an exact time frame” on such a process.
For the public, the case has stirred uncomfortable questions about how mental health facilities monitor at-risk individuals and what safeguards can be put in place to prevent similar incidents. Wason’s ability to leave Gartnavel Hospital unsupervised, despite his history of psychosis, has prompted scrutiny of hospital protocols and the resources available for patients with complex needs.
The story has also reignited debate about the intersection of criminal justice and mental health. While some have expressed sympathy for Wason’s struggle with a severe mental disorder, others have focused on the trauma experienced by Scott and the train driver, both of whom narrowly escaped a much grimmer fate. The judge’s remarks reflected this tension, acknowledging the “horrible” impact on the victims while insisting on the necessity of Wason’s continued treatment and detention.
As for Sophie Scott, her courage and quick thinking in the face of mortal danger have been widely commended. While the psychological scars may take time to heal, there is hope—echoed by the judge and the wider community—that she will one day be able to reclaim a sense of normalcy.
The case of Andrew Wason stands as a stark reminder of the unpredictable consequences of untreated or inadequately managed mental illness, as well as the importance of robust support systems for both patients and the public. It’s a story that has shaken Glasgow, but it’s also prompted important conversations about how society responds to those who are both vulnerable and, at times, dangerous.
As the legal chapter closes, the focus now shifts to healing—for the victim, for the community, and for a young man whose battle with illness led to a moment of unimaginable peril.
