AN ENGLISH MAN has been sentenced to ten years in jail for pushing another man onto the tube tracks seconds before a train arrived.
Christopher Cole (32) previously pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted grievous bodily harm at the Old Bailey in November last year.
British Transport Police reports that the incident happened on 9 June last year when the 21-year-old victim was on his way home. While on a central line train, the victim was approached by Cole who pushed him for no reason.
After grappling with Cole along with another passenger, the victim left the train and proceeded to Bond Street station.
Cole approached the victim again there and forcibly pushed him onto the tracks.
The victim fell onto the tracks where his body struck the electrified rail.
Despite the injury from the fall, he climbed back onto the platform about 30 seconds before a train arrived. The victim was taken to hospital by for treatment.
Cole fled the scene but after an investigation by British Transport Police he was identified through CCTV and was arrested about a month later.
“There is absolutely no reason why Cole unleashed such an attack against his victim, which could have easily killed him, ” said investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Paul Langley.
“During interview, Cole admitted that he pushed the victim because he was ‘annoyed with him. This is utterly unacceptable and, as in this case, we will work tirelessly to ensure the toughest sentences are handed to offenders.”
As you would imagine, this has been an horrific experience for the victim. His life was in immediate danger when Cole pushed him onto the tracks and he was extremely lucky to have escaped without any permanent physical injury.
BBC News reports that the victim is a Polish national and that the trial heard he was targeted because Cole mistook him as Russian and was annoyed by Russian fans’ behaviour during Euro 2016.
Counsel for the defendant denied that the attack was racially motivated.
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