Tube pusher given indefinite hospital order

A man who attacked three Tube passengers in a 35-minute spree of unprovoked violence, including pushing one on to the tracks, has been detained indefinitely.

Donovan Kenlyn, 39, was found to have been insane when he punched and pushed three men at three different London Underground stations on 27 October 2022.

The Old Bailey was told Kenlyn, who has schizophrenia, had a string of previous convictions including for a "substantial number" of violent offences.

He was handed a hospital order without limit of time by Judge Philip Katz KC, who said if not for his mental illness Kenlyn would have faced a "substantial" jail term.

Judge Katz said the three men, all "complete strangers" to Kenlyn, became "the victim of an unprovoked attack".

Kenlyn had set off from Hanger Lane station in Ealing, west London, and travelled to Baker Street station in central London where he launched a "vicious" attack at about 11:30 BST on Samer Jawad, a visitor to the UK.

Judge Katz told the defendant: "In your fury, you punched him numerous times to the face.

"He tried to escape your violence but you caught up with him and struck him again from behind, causing him to fall down."

Mr Jawad suffered injuries to the side of his head, mouth and face.

Minutes later Kenyln travelled to Finchley Road station, where he pushed him on to the tracks.

Judge Katz said: "He ended up near the live rails and could easily have been killed. People had noticed you acting aggressively and shouting obscenities."

Kenlyn left the scene and Mr Cambeiro was taken to hospital with a broken arm and dislocated elbow. The court was told Mr Cambeiro had been forced to take early retirement as a result.

Kenlyn then travelled to West Hampstead station, where he followed Peter Acton and struck him on the back of the head just after 12:00.

Mr Acton, who suffered fractured ribs, said in a victim impact statement he had been left feeling anxious and fearful of using the Tube.

Kenlyn was arrested a few days later at Hanger Lane station.

During the trialm Kenlyn, from Ealing, accepted he was the attacker but denied the charges because he said he had had "active" schizophrenia that caused him to believe he was under threat.

He was found not guilty by reason of insanity of causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Cambeiro, of assault occasioning actual bodily harm to Mr Acton and of assault by beating against Mr Jawad.

He was also cleared of the more serious offences of attempted murder against Mr Cambeiro and of causing him grievous bodily harm with intent.

The jury's decision did not mean Kenlyn was acquitted and left open the possibility he would receive a hospital order.

Sentencing him, Judge Katz said: "On all the evidence, I am sure that when your schizophrenia is active, you present a very high danger to the public.

"You could easily have killed Mr Cambeiro and, to a sane person, the risk of killing him would have been obvious."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected]