Nine-Year Jail Term for Attacker Who Blinded Rail Enforcement Officer

A man who carried out a brutal assault on an enforcement officer outside a south London railway station, leaving his victim permanently blind in one eye, has been jailed for nine years.

Tim Greenaway, 49, of Laud Street in Lambeth, was sentenced at the Royal Courts of Justice on Thursday 22 January after being found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent following a British Transport Police investigation.

The court heard that the attack took place on Friday 16 June 2023 outside Vauxhall station. The victim was issuing a fixed penalty notice to a woman for littering when Greenaway intervened, shouting abuse and filming the encounter on his mobile phone.

In an effort to avoid confrontation, the officer walked away, but Greenaway pursued him into the station entrance, continuing to shout. When the officer turned to face him, Greenaway pushed his phone into the victim’s face. As the officer knocked the phone away, it fell to the ground.

Greenaway then launched a violent assault, punching the officer to the ground before straddling him and repeatedly striking him in the face. The attack only stopped when a member of the public intervened and pulled Greenaway away.

Members of the public rushed to help the injured officer and, with assistance from an off-duty police officer, restrained Greenaway until British Transport Police officers arrived and arrested him.

The victim was taken to hospital, where he spent several days receiving treatment for serious injuries, including a fractured eye socket and a dislocated shoulder. He has since been told by doctors that he will permanently lose sight in the injured eye and will require further surgery.

BTP Detective Constable Steve Potter said:

“Justice has now caught up with Greenaway thanks to our investigation, while sadly his victim continues to struggle with the consequences of this unprovoked attack over two years later. Greenaway’s frenzied attack has had a devastating impact on the victim. He’s a family man who had to give up his job due to the injuries he sustained and must endure further operations to reconstruct his eye socket. A special mention must be given to those brave members of the public who intervened and no doubt prevented the victim from sustaining further injuries. Their continued support throughout the investigation helped secure Greenaway’s conviction. This was a man simply doing his job when his life was changed forever by the actions of a thug. He should have been safe to carry out his role without interference, aggression and ultimately violence. No one should have to endure violence or intimidation while carrying out their job. Any form of abuse will simply not be tolerated and we will use every resource available to bring offenders like Greenaway to justice.”

Image: British Transport Police