Tube pusher who tried to kill innocent stranger jailed for life

A homeless man who pushed an innocent stranger onto the tracks at Oxford Circus underground station has been jailed for life.

Brwa Shorsh pushed Tadeusz Potoczek off the platform in central London on February 3 this year, seconds before a train was due to arrive at the station.

The Kurdish migrant had claimed he'd targeted the 60-year-old in 'revenge' after thinking Mr Potoczek had given him a 'dirty look'.

Fortunately Mr Potoczek, a postman, missed the electrified rail and was helped back onto the platform by a passer-by who rushed to his aid.

The 24-year-old, who has accumulated convictions of assault and indecent acts since arriving in Britain in 2019, had denied trying to kill his victim and claimed he did not know a train was arriving at the time.

But in July he was found guilty of attempted murder by a jury at Inner London Crown Court after just 32 minutes of deliberations and today he was jailed for life with a minimum term of eight years.

The bystander who rushed to help Mr Potoczek was awarded £1,000 by the trial judge who commended his bravery and quick actions.

It was reported after Shorsh was convicted that the Home Office had been trying to deport him, with the defendant launching an appeal with the immigration tribunal which was ongoing at the time of the attack.

Shorsh had 12 convictions for 21 offences including assault, anti-social behaviour and outraging public decency before the incident. 

Mr Potoczek had been hurrying home to catch a flight and was looking at the arrivals board when he was attacked in what prosecutor Sam Barker described as 'the thing of nightmares'.

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During the trial Mr Barker said: 'We say that Mr Shorsh would have heard and probably seen the approaching train.

'It follows that the defendant deliberately and forcefully pushed someone knowing that a train was coming.

'The prosecution case is simple; that whatever the reason or whatever the lack of a reason Mr Shorsh intended to kill Mr Potoczek. That is the only reason to push someone in front of a train.

'We say the defendant pushed Mr Potoczek in front of the train intending to kill him.'

Fortunately Mr Potoczek managed to stay on his feet and landed away from the live rails.

The driver had put on the emergency brake and his train was just four seconds away from hitting the victim.

Another commuter who pulled Mr Potoczek to safety said Shorsh yelled 'What the f*** are you doing here?'

Following his arrest Shorsh claimed he thought three women on a passing train had looked at him 'disrespectfully', the court heard.

'He was really angry as a result of it, and importantly he was not able to stand it any longer when he thought Mr Potoczek gave him a look,' said the prosecutor.

Asked how he felt after the stranger pushed him onto the Tube track Mr Potoczek said he feared he would 'lose my life'.

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He added: 'I recognised that stopping a train is not like stopping a bike.'

Brave commuter Oliver Matthews came to his rescue and pulled him back up to the platform.

'I feel an arm under my shoulder and I feel I am safe,' said Mr Potoczek.

He added that Shorsh told passengers on the platform to 'call the police'.

'He said: 'Call the police!', like he is not afraid of the police coming.'

Mr Matthews, who helped Mr Potoczek back onto the platform, said in his statement read to the court: 'I was very shocked and I rushed over to the platform.

'I took hold of [Mr Potoczek] and pulled him back onto the platform.

'I situated myself between them to make sure that [Shorsh] didn't try anything else.'

Train driver Bobby Walker said in his statement he thought someone was about to commit suicide.

'He was leaning forward onto the track.

'The male in the red jacket fell into the track but not into the deeper track area.

'I immediately put the train into emergency.'

'I was shaken very badly by this. If he had been on the track a few seconds later he would have been killed. Also if I had looked away for a few seconds he would have been killed.

'I had a suicide four years ago at Oxford Circus so I am very glad I managed to stop the train.'

Tim Brown, defending Shorsh, said he is a 'homeless refugee who has no contact with the NHS, let alone mental health services.'

Shorsh, of no fixed address, denied but was convicted of attempted murder. Today he was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of eight years.

After Shorsh was sentenced today Maxine Jarrousse-Jones of the Crown Prosecutation Service said: 'Brwa Shorsh attempted to kill the victim by deliberately and forcefully pushing him into the path of an approaching train.

'He intended to harm the victim and it is impossible to imagine anything that could ever justify pushing anyone in front of a train like that.

'If not for the victim's quick-thinking, the courage of the other passenger who came to his rescue and the speed at which the train driver brought the train to a halt, Shorsh's actions could have cost the victim his life.

'Commuters should be able to travel freely without fear of violence or harm and I hope this sentencing is a reminder that such acts will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted as fully as the law allows.'