A delivery driver who praised the Christchurch mosque shooter has been jailed for more than 18 years for attempting to murder a bystander near Heathrow Airport a day after the massacre.

On 16 March, Vincent Fuller walked up to a parked car at his local Tesco store and asked the occupant: “Do you want to get hurt?” and “You are going to die”. He then thrust a knife a number of times through the open driver side window. The driver suffered a serious defensive stab wound to his hand and a superficial cut to the side of his neck. Fuller then ran off.

Today, he was sentenced to a total of 18 years and 9 months in prison. Once he is eventually released he will have to keep authorities notified of his movements for the next 30 years.

On the night of 15 March, 51-year-old Fuller was at home in Stanwell with a friend, watching news of the shooting. The friend told police that Fuller reacted strongly, agreeing with the actions of the attacker. Fuller also spoke to his friend about parking issues with his Asian neighbours.

By the next day (16 March) Fuller was described by the friend as ranting and raving about others, especially Muslims. At about 6pm, Fuller was heard outside repeatedly shouting “white supremacy” and making threats to kill Muslims.

Just after 10pm, he went to his downstairs neighbour’s flat armed with a baseball bat and using racist language, told her to come out. He was caught on the doorbell camera and the neighbour called the police. Fuller then went outside and began hitting cars with the bat. He racially abused one driver and smashed the headlight and damaged the bumper of an Uber driver’s car.

When the bat broke he went back to his home, got changed and headed towards Tesco armed with a knife and carried out the attack.

After leaving the scene Fuller was told to stop by police who were aware of a stabbing. When he refused, the he was tasered and arrested.

Fuller initially denied owning a baseball bat, threatening his neighbour or even seeing anything unusual in the car park.

The driver and his three friends identified Fuller and blood found on Fuller’s jacket matched the victim’s DNA.

On 16 August he pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of the driver and racially aggravated harassment of his neighbour. He also admitted possession of a knife and affray. At his sentencing on 10 September, judge Peter Lodder QC ruled that the attempted murder had a terrorism connection.

Jenny Hopkins from the CPS said: “Fuller is a dangerous individual who is fuelled by hatred of Muslims and non-white people.

“He resisted arrest and brazenly denied all involvement when he first spoke to the police.

“The evidence presented by the CPS led to guilty pleas and I hope his prison sentence will reassure neighbours and the wider community that justice has been done.”