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A man found guilty of stabbing two women in the stomach in random attacks on the streets of East London will avoid any jail time.

Ivor Collingwood-Williams, 38, was sentenced on Friday (January 10) to a hospital order under the Mental Health Act - the controversial order sets no minimum time for how long he should be kept off the streets.

Instead, he will be released from a mental health unit when he is "deemed fit and no longer a risk to the public" after making an application to the Justice Secretary.

On August 24, 2018, Collingwood-Williams was armed with a knife and walking along Garrison Road in Bow, where he lived, when he attacked a 63-year-old woman.

He lunged towards her with the blade and stabbed her in the stomach, but she was able to scramble and flee her attacker and raise the alarm.

However, Collingwood-Williams was not arrested and two days later he attacked another woman, a 57-year-old.

The second victim was stabbed multiple times in the stomach on the corner of Parnell Road and Roman Road.

Both of Collingwood-Williams' victims had to be treated for abdominal injuries in hospital; fortunately, both have made full recoveries.

Metropolitan Police officers finally arrested him the day after the second attack, during a raid at his home.

Despite answering "no comment" to all interview questions at the station, Collingwood-Williams was charged later that day with two counts of causing grievous bodily harm and two counts of possession of a knife.

He was found guilty of the charges on December 6 last year after a trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

His sentence to a hospital order under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act was made due to medical evidence heard during the trial.

Detective constable Mike Lewis, of Central East Safeguarding, said: "Collingwood-Williams carried out two completely unprovoked attacks on lone women.

"Understandably, these incidents caused a great deal of fear and concern in the community.

"However, Collingwood-Williams was arrested within hours of the second offence due to information from nearby residents who recognised his description.

"He is clearly a dangerous man and I am glad he is now off the streets of London."