Phoney NY transport worker behind bars

Mr McCollum once drove a train to World Trade Centre

A 35-year-old New Yorker has been arrested for the 17th time in 15 years for masquerading as a New York City Transit (NYCT) worker.

Since beginning his "career" for the NYCT in 1981, Darius McCollum has taken on a number of jobs, including bus and train driver, toll taker, and transit supervisor. The only problem is that the NYCT has never employed him.

Mr McCollum, from the New York borough of Queens, first hit the headlines at the age of 15 when he commandeered a subway train.

I am not insane. I am just your average guy who doesn't mind helping out

Darius McCollum

But it is his most recent exploit that has landed him in jail this time, and he is now awaiting trial.

On 21 February he is alleged to have pulled a subway emergency brake during the rush hour, only to reappear as a blue-uniformed supervisor coming to the train's rescue.

No one was injured in the incident, but Mr McCollum was later arrested on numerous charges including criminal impersonation.

'Helping out'

Mr McCollum's parents are anxious to help their son, and his lawyer is planning to plead that his client is insane and cannot account for his actions.

New York cab: Not Mr McCollum's preferred mode of transport

Lawyer Tracey Bloodsaw says Mr McCollum needs psychiatric help, and that he lives in a fake world where he does not consider the repercussions of his actions.

However the man himself denies he is insane.

Speaking from jail, Mr McCollum told the New York Times: "I am not insane. I am just your average guy who doesn't mind helping out."

Mr McCollum has been in and out of jail ever since his fascination with the New York transport system began.

He has spent a total of five years in prison but has always returned to his old haunts.

Truck escapade

Mr McCollum first came to the public's attention in 1981 when he took the wheel of a subway train and steered it down to the World Trade Centre.

In 1997, Mr McCollum was accused of stealing a Transit Authority truck from a Brooklyn train yard - four times.

Police said he used a stolen superintendent's badge to sign out the truck at night and take it for a ride.

Police said he took the truck for four nights in a row and was only caught when an employee recognised him from a previous incident.

Mr McCollum returned the truck the next morning. The only damage he had apparently caused was a puncture to one of the tyres.