A man who stabbed two strangers more than a dozen times in a 'torrent of violence' at a London Tube station has been jailed for 11 years. Nicholas Orlando Green, 36, attacked Phillip Thomas, 44, and Chintz Patel, 42, at Kennington Underground station in south London as they headed home from a dance class.
Green repeatedly stabbed Mr Thomas in the chest before knocking Mr Patel to the ground and also stabbing him when he rushed over to help. The attacker also assaulted a woman as he fled the scene of the double stabbing, which happened at around 10.30pm on March 27 last year. Green, who simply laughed when arrested, was caught thanks to the bank card he had used to travel on the Tube, Inner London Crown Court heard.
Mr Thomas delivered a powerful victim impact statement personally in court, saying: 'It is an odd feeling to know that I could easily have been dead for over a year now, because death was a very possible outcome after I was stabbed multiple times that day.' He added that he was 'lucky Mr Patel had the unbelievable courage to step in'. Mr Patel, who suffered 13 total stab wounds, broke down in tears as he told the court: 'My mental health has suffered significantly. The scars on my body are a constant reminder of what happened and they will always remain with me.'
Judge Vanessa Baraitser sentenced Green to 11 years in prison with an extra five years on licence once released, and said the attacks happened 'without provocation or warning'. She praised the bravery of passengers who intervened, saying they 'showed real selflessness and courage'.
