A teenage boy who left former British ambassador to the US Sir Christopher Meyer with 'horrific injuries' in an attack at Victoria Station wept in court today as he was spared jail.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, got into an altercation with Sir Christopher after the former ambassador pushed past while he was blocking the door and called him a 'b*****d'.

The court heard the boy, then aged 16, lost his temper and rushed at Sir Christopher, pushing him from behind with both hands.

Sir Christopher Meyer, 74, was permanently scarred after he was knocked unconscious by the 16-year-old and had to spend six days in hospital (pictured)

The former diplomat fell to the ground and lost consciousness before being rushed to hospital, Uxbridge Youth Court heard.

The boy pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm without intent to Sir Christopher on July 11, 2018.

District Judge Deborah Wright said: 'The injuries in this case were quite clearly horrific. The assault has had a profound impact upon him both physically and emotionally.

'The victim has injuries which have left him with scarring. He does not know whether or not he will suffer permanent disfigurement.'

District Judge Wright said the attack clearly passed the custody threshold, but the boy's good character and remorse meant she did not have to pass a custodial sentence.

Handing him a 12-month intensive referral order she added: 'You have been very fortunate today.'

He was also told to pay £500 in compensation.

Katie Weiss, prosecuting, said Sir Christopher had been on a northbound Victoria line train from Vauxhall when it reached Victoria.

She added: 'He was confronted by the defendant at the train doors, who was getting on. A witness says she saw a verbal dispute between the two, it appears that Sir Christopher nudged past the defendant calling him a 'b*****d'.

'It seems that the witnesses heard the defendant say, “I'm not having this”, and got off the train then ran towards Sir Christopher and with both hands pushed him in the back with significant force.

'He fell to the platform and was knocked unconscious, sustaining a number of injuries.'

Sir Christopher was rushed to hospital with injuries including facial bruising, a cut to his finger and cuts around his eye from his glasses breaking.

He was in hospital for six days and had to undergo plastic surgery for an exposed tendon on his hand and lacerations near his left eye and lip

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, got into an altercation with Sir Christopher (pictured) after the former ambassador pushed past

Sir Christopher subsequently refused to take part in a restorative justice session with the boy.

In his victim statement which was read to the court, he said the attack meant he had to cancel a number of engagements and business meetings including an appointment at the BBC about the visit of US President Donald Trump to the UK.

He said the attack had been 'deeply distressing' for him and his family.

He added: 'The injuries I suffered may well leave permanent disfigurement. There is also a lasting emotional impact.'

The court heard the teenager stayed at the scene until police arrived.

Quizzed by officers he admitted pushing the former diplomat, who was the UK's ambassador to the US between 1997 and 2003, and wanted to apologise to him.

Brad Lawlor, defending, said the boy had done well at school and was determined to get back on track.

Mr Lawlor told the court the boy, who lives in Hillingdon, had lost his temper, and appealed for a community sentence.

He added: 'This was a momentary lapse of judgment by the defendant, clearly a loss of temper.

'He has shown himself to be an educated, driven young man keen to rehabilitate himself and make right his actions.'

The mother of the youth was tearful in court as the prosecutor told how her son stayed with Sir Christopher before being arrested at the scene.

The diplomat, who was not present at today's hearing, said in a statement to the court that he broke down in tears after well-wishers sent him flowers while he was being treated at St Mary's Hospital in west London.

He said he had to cancel media appearances on the BBC and CNN as a commentator for US President Donald Trump's visit to the UK, and cancel a visit to Hong Kong and Shanghai with his wife.

Writing six months after the attack, he said: 'My wife saw me at my worst, covered in blood at A&E.

'I still have visible scars above my lip and hand. There's also a lasting emotional impact.'

Brad Lawlor, in mitigation, had said his client was angry because he recently had to give his dream of becoming a professional footballer because of an injury.

He said: 'He effectively had to give up a lifelong dream because of an injury.

'This was a momentary lapse of judgement by the defendant clearly a loss of temper resulting in a single push which has resulted in serious injury.'

Sir Christopher and his wife, Catherine, who is seen after receiving her CBE at Buckingham Palace in 2017

Speaking after he admitted the charge, PC Maya Alayli, of British Transport Police, said: 'The violence the defendant unleashed on his victim was appalling, and left him unconscious for a number of minutes.

'I am pleased that the man pleaded guilty to the charge, saving the victim a lot of unnecessary stress from having to attend court.'

After the conviction Sir Christopher said: 'When I saw myself in the mirror I thought, 'Jesus Christ, it's the Night of the Living Dead'.

'What really upset me was not the way I looked, but the fact my wife and two kids had to look at that. I did not feel clear of all these problems until probably November.

'I was very pleased [with the conviction]. I know I was pushed over in a deliberate assault. I feel that justice has been done.'

The attack happened just days after his wife, Catherine, was appointed to the House of Lords.

She said: 'It was a terrible shock. I received a call from the police to say that my husband had been assaulted. Christopher was severely lacerated and bruised. For quite a while I was worried that he might be permanently disfigured.'