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A fare dodger from Tottenham has been spared jail after he viciously attacked a Tube worker who challenged him at Victoria station.

Armed with shopping bags, Bajonar Bromfield-Nicol from Haringey "double-shuffled" through the wider ticket gates at Victoria station in April last year and pushed over the staff member, injuring him so badly he needed surgery.

The 23-year-old of Drayton Road, Tottenham, pushed his victim, a TfL employee, straight to the floor, causing serious injuries to the victim’s elbow and arm which he has still not recovered from.

The staff member has had surgery and more than 40 hospital appointments, but is still not able to return to his full duties at London Underground, more than a year after he was attacked by Bromfield-Nicol.

(Image: British Transport Police)

CCTV footage shows the young man "double shuffle" through the ticket barrier with a shopping bag in each hand after tailgating a paying commuter at around 8pm on April 26, 2018.

Afterwards the attacker calmly walks over and picks up his shopping bags and continues to the escalator.

Bromfield-Nicol was found guilty of grievous bodily harm at Blackfriars Crown Court on June 6, following the shocking incident at Victoria Underground station, London.

He claimed he was acting in self-defence, but a jury convicted him of GBH after reviewing the evidence.

(Image: British Transport Police)





On Monday (June 8), he was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment suspended for 12 months, meaning he does not have to go to jail unless he reoffends. He must carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation requirement of 15 days. He was also ordered to pay £750 in compensation to his victim.

The Underground worker said in his victim impact statement: “I remain upset and often irritated that basic tasks can be frustrating and challenging, and I am aware that my self-confidence has been affected.”



British Transport Police Inspector Mullah Hoque said: “This was a shocking and senseless attack on a member of London Underground staff simply trying to do their job.



“Well over a year later, the victim is still suffering considerably from the physical and emotional impact of Bromfield-Nicol’s violent assault.



“I am pleased the jury saw fit to convict Bromfield-Nicol and I hope it serves as a strong reminder that we absolutely will not tolerate this sort of behaviour on our Underground network, or anywhere else for that matter.”

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Siwan Hayward, director of compliance, policing and on-street services TfL, said: “Our staff work hard, assisting our customers and keeping London moving. They deserve to go about their day without fear or intimidation, in safety."Fare evasion costs TfL £100m a year and it has 450 revenue inspectors operating across the whole network day and night, using new technology and intelligence to identify anyone travelling without a ticket."Fare evasion is a serious criminal offence that could lead to prosecution, a criminal record, a fine of up to £1,000 and can have profound consequences, which is why TfL and BTP work closely together to identify and prosecute people fare evading."