Tube attacker’s 35-minute spree of unprovoked violence

A Tube attacker who terrorised passengers on the London Underground has been locked up indefinitely.

Donovan Kenlyn, 39, was found to have been insane when he attacked three men across the Tube network on October 27, 2022.

Now Kenlyn, who has schizophrenia, has been jailed indefinitely for the violent spree in broad daylight.

He has a string of previous convictions, including a ‘substantial number’ for violence offences, the court heard.

Kenlyn was handed a hospital order without limit of time today. But Judge Philip Katz KC said if it had not been for his mental illness, he would have been given a ‘substantial’ jail term.

The judge said he presents ‘a very high danger to the public.’

How the attack unfolded

One of the victims, Angel Cambeiro, fell on the train tracks and ‘could easily have been killed.’

The judge said: ‘On October 27, 2022, three members of the public were going about their business on the London transport system.

‘Within a short space of time they were each the victim of an unprovoked attack by you. Each victim was a complete stranger to you.’

Kenlyn set off from Hangar Lane and travelled to Baker Street where he launched a ‘vicious’ attack on Samer Jawad, a tourist visiting London, at about 11.30am.

He punched Sawad who tried to escape the unprovoked attack.

Judge Katz told the defendant: ‘In your fury, you punched him numerous times to the face.

‘He tried to escape your violence but you caught up with him and struck him again from behind, causing him to fall down.’

Jawad suffered injuries to the side of his head, mouth and face. He was helped by TfL staff and other passengers.

Kenlyn fled the scene and travelled to Finchley Road, where the attack on Cambeiro unfolded.

The judge described what happened: ‘As you walked past Angel Cambeiro on the platform, you suddenly reached out and pushed him on to the tracks. He ended up near the live rails and could easily have been killed.

‘Members of the public and staff came to his rescue while you left that scene. People had noticed you acting aggressively and shouting obscenities.’

Cambeiro was rushed to hospital with a broken arm and dislocated elbow which required surgery.

He was left feeling uncomfortable and challenged around crowds, and he was forced to take early retirement as a result of the attack, the court heard.

Kenlyn travelled on to nearby West Hampstead station where he followed Peter Acton and struck him on the back of the head just after 12pm.

Judge Katz said: ‘He had noticed you on the platform and had tried to avoid you as you made him feel uneasy and he thought he might have encountered you before. You struck him on the back of his head and he fell over the seat dividers.’

Acton, who suffered fractured ribs, said in a victim impact statement that he had been left feeling anxious and fearful of using the Tube.

Following the third attack, Kenlyn returned to Hanger Lane where he was arrested a few days later.

Kenlyn, of Ealing, west London, had accepted that he was involved in the attacks, but denied a string of charges because he was suffering with ‘active’ schizophrenia that caused him to falsely believe he was under threat.

Kenlyn was hallucinating during the attacks

He was not receiving treatment for his mental health condition at the time of the incident, he lived alone and was single.

Consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Bradley Hillier had told jurors: ‘It does appear for various reasons – not entirely surprising in my opinion – that Mr Kenlyn had not been under the care of mental health services.’

It is likely he was ill for ‘many years’ as schizophrenia usually sets in in the late teens or early 20s, Dr Hillier added.

The clinician said he met Kenlyn at least four times in the 18 months before the trial.

He described his illness as ‘severe, enduring, relapsing and remitting.’

Kenlyn suffered persecutory delusions, auditory hallucinations, a thought disorder that made him ‘at times incomprehensible’ and ‘threat/control-override’ symptoms due to psychosis.

He was found not guilty by reason of insanity of causing grievous bodily harm to Cambeiro, assault occasioning actual bodily harm to Acton and of assault by beating against Jawad.

The more serious offence of attempted murder against Cambeiro and of causing him grievous bodily harm with intent were cleared.

Judge Katz told the defendant that ‘your schizophrenia is active, you present a very high danger to the public.’

‘You could easily have killed Mr Cambeiro and, to a sane person, the risk of killing him would have been obvious,’ he added.

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