A West London man who carried out a frenzied machete attack in front of horrified commuters has been jailed. Aidan Watts, 20, repeatedly stabbed a 20-year-old victim on the platform of Imperial Wharf station, causing life-threatening injuries to his thigh, abdomen, and buttocks.
Details of the Attack
Police were called to the Fulham interchange shortly after 5:20 PM on June 18 last year following reports of the frightening incident. Watts, along with Jakada Joseph, 22, and Stefan Kosavac-Godart, 19, had spotted the victim, who was known to them, after exiting the same rush hour train. The group ran to confront and ambush him, chasing the man and tripping him over. Watts then launched the knife attack in full view of onlookers before fleeing the scene.
Witness Accounts and Evidence
Witnesses described seeing Watts carrying a machete with a red 40-centimeter blade as he ran away. The weapon was later stashed by a set of maintenance units at a nearby housing estate, according to the British Transport Police (BTP). CCTV cameras also captured Watts discarding items of clothing in the same area immediately after the stabbing.
Arrests and Convictions
Watts was arrested on June 22, with Joseph and Kosavac-Godart detained on July 3 and July 29, respectively. Watts, of Cremorne Estate, Kensington and Chelsea, pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm (GBH) ahead of an Inner London Crown Court trial that concluded on March 12. He was sentenced to five years and one month in prison, with an additional year to be served on licence, at the same court on Thursday, May 7.
Joseph, of Cambridge Gardens, also Kensington and Chelsea, and Kosavac-Godart, of no fixed address, were convicted of affray. Kosavac-Godart was given a conditional discharge following time served on remand. BTP awaits sentencing information for Joseph.
Police Statement
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Attwell said: 'What was a normal summer’s evening at a busy West London station very quickly escalated into serious violence. The two parties were on the same train, within feet of each other, and had the group not noticed the victim then the whole incident could have been avoided. As it was, they spotted him and outnumbered him, before Watts launched a spontaneous but targeted frenzied attack on the platform. Our detectives worked tirelessly to gather a wealth of witness statements, CCTV footage, and forensic evidence. I’d like to thank them and our colleagues from the Metropolitan Police Service and the Crown Prosecution Service for supporting our investigation.'
How to Report
Anyone who is the victim of, or witness to, an offence on the railway network should text BTP on 61016, or call 0800 40 50 40. In an emergency, always dial 999.
