No Jail For Man Who Stabbed Victim with Umbrella

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150 hours unpaid work for GBH and affray

A man who stabbed another man with an umbrella on a Tube station platform was given a nine month suspended sentence and ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work after British Transport Police (BTP) detectives used CCTV footage to prove his guilt.

Sandeep Saran (36) of Great West Road, Isleworth, was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday 5 November after pleading guilty to assault occasioning grievous bodily harm and affray at a hearing in October.

The court heard how Saran interrupted a conversation between a woman, aged 21, and her boyfriend, aged 25, on the platform at Turnham Green Tube station at about 6pm on Thursday 4 February.

An argument started between the two men before Saran picked up the woman’s umbrella and used it to attack her boyfriend.

The umbrella broke leaving Saran holding the handle and sharp metal shaft which he then stabbed the victim with, causing a deep wound under his armpit.

Saran fled the station and the victim, from Basildon, was taken to hospital for treatment where he remained for several days before being discharged.

BTP Detective Constable Graham Hempstead, the investigating officer, said:

“Saran repeatedly struck the victim with the umbrella before using the broken end to stab him in the armpit.

“Saran really lost control of himself and was arrested as he left the station.

“Violent incidents are very rare on the Tube and we will push for the strongest penalties when they do occur.”

Howard Collins, Chief Operating Officer at London Underground, said:

“Assaults of this nature are thankfully a rare occurrence on the Tube network, with only 13 crimes committed for every million passenger journeys on the Tube.

“London Underground continuously works with the police to ensure that passenger safety and security is a priority.”

November 18, 2010