A man who carried out a frenzied 20-second knife attack on two dancers at a London Underground station has been sentenced to 11 years in prison.
Horrific and Unprovoked Assault
Nicholas Orlando Green, 36, launched the violent assault on Phillip Thomas, 44, and Chintz Patel, 42, at Kennington Underground station in south London shortly after 10.30pm on 27 March last year. The two victims had just finished a local dance class and were on their way home when Green attacked without warning or provocation.
CCTV footage played in court showed Green grabbing Mr Thomas and striking him repeatedly with a clenched hand that concealed a knife. The attack lasted around 20 seconds before Mr Patel bravely rushed over from the opposite platform to intervene.
Bravery and Life-Altering Injuries
Green then turned his attention to Mr Patel, knocking him to the ground and stabbing him. A group of passengers eventually managed to pull the attacker away. Green subsequently assaulted a woman in a lift before fleeing the station, leaving his trainers behind.
Mr Thomas suffered multiple stab wounds to his chest and a fractured elbow. In a powerful victim impact statement read at Inner London Crown Court, he said: "It is an odd feeling to know that I could easily have been dead for over a year now. If he had stabbed me one inch higher I very likely would not be around to say this today."
He described the lasting psychological trauma, stating he would never be the carefree person he was before, adding: "That person was killed on the platform on 27 March 2024."
Mr Patel, who sustained 13 stab wounds, wept as he told the court his mental health had suffered significantly. "The scars on my body are a constant reminder," he said, explaining he still cannot use Kennington Tube station and for months had to rely on taxis for travel.
Investigation and Sentencing
Green, from Southwark, was later identified by the bank card he used to travel through the station. Detective Chief Inspector Paul Attwell said Green "repeatedly laughed, lied, argued and tried to frustrate our investigation" during police interviews.
He was convicted of two counts of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, possession of a bladed article, and one count of common assault. He had been cleared by a jury of two counts of attempted murder.
Sentencing him to 11 years in prison with a five-year extended licence, Judge Vanessa Baraitser praised the "remarkable bravery" of Mr Patel and the other passengers who intervened. She noted that psychiatric reports concluded Green was not suffering from psychosis at the time of the attacks but from a severe personality disorder.
Judge Baraitser stated: "All those who intervened to help Mr Thomas and put themselves in harm's way to do so showed real selflessness and courage."
Detective Chief Inspector Attwell added: "This was a truly horrific and unprovoked attack that left two innocent men with life-altering physical and psychological injuries. I hope this outcome brings some measure of justice and reassurance to the victims and their loved ones."
