Drunk Tube passenger who tried to throw terrified female stranger into the path of a train faces years in jail for attempted murder
- Arthur Hawrylewicz, 42, admitted attempted murder on the first day of his trial
- He faces years in jail and was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing in April
A drunken Tube passenger who tried to throw a terrified woman onto the tracks as a train pulled in is facing years in jail.
Arthur Hawrylewicz, 42, held Maria Osifeso in a bear-hug, lifted her up and swung her round at King’s Cross station last August.
A friend of Ms Osifeso intervened and released Hawrylewicz’s grip as horrified Hammersmith and City Line passengers looked on.
He admitted attempted murder on the first day of his trial at Inner London Crown Court and was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on 24 April.
Arthur Hawrylewicz, 42, the drunken Tube passenger who tried to throw a terrified woman onto the tracks last summer as a train pulled in, is facing years in jail
Hawrylewicz, of Avondale Gardens, Cardiff, held Maria Osifeso (not pictured) in a bear-hug, lifted her up and swung her round at King’s Cross station (pictured) last August. A friend of Ms Osifeso intervened and released Hawrylewicz’s grip as horrified Hammersmith and City Line passengers looked on
Hawrylewicz, of Avondale Gardens, Cardiff, drunkenly attacked Ms Osifeso at the station on August 29, 2022.
The victim and her friends had been heading to Notting Hill Carnival at the time of the attack.
Hawrylewicz went up to Ms Osifeso and said something that she wasn’t able to understand, likely because of a ‘language barrier,’ Prosecutor Sukwinder Dhadda told the court.
‘She said she thought he was intoxicated and she told him she wasn’t interested,’ Ms Dhadda said. ‘She continued talking to friends.’
The court heard that Hawrylewicz continued to stare at her.
Ms Osifeso’s friend then alerted her that the train was coming and she started to walking towards the end of the platform.
‘At that stage she felt the defendant’s arms wrapped around her waist in what she said was a bear hug style grip. He lifted her off the ground and swung her around,’ the prosecutor said.
‘That is when her male friend intervened and was able to release his grip from her.
‘This lady has suffered considerably from this incident that took place last year.’
Hawrylewicz repeatedly banged his head against the side of the train before he was taken away.
Hawrylewicz (pictured) admitted attempted murder on the first day of his trial at Inner London Crown Court and was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on 24 April. He reportedly ‘has a limited recollection’ of the incident
Alexia Nicol, defending, earlier said Hawrylewicz ‘has a limited recollection’ of the incident.
Judge Benedict Kelleher warned Hawrylewicz, who has admitted attempted murder: ‘This is an extremely serious offence. You can expect a lengthy custodial sentence.’
Detective Sergeant Mike Blakeburn issued a statement calling the attack ‘completely unprovoked and incredibly disturbing.’
He claimed the incident was ‘beyond terrifying for the victim’ and applauded her friends for intervening.
‘Had it not been for their brave actions pulling her from Hawrylewicz’s clutches, we could easily have been dealing with a murder investigation,’ Mr Blakeburn said.
‘Hawrylewicz has never offered any explanation or rationale for why he did what he did and claimed throughout interview that he had no recollection of the incident, but the victim will have to live with this traumatic memory for the rest of her life.
‘Thankfully he can now expect a significant custodial sentence where he’ll have plenty of time to consider the implications of his senseless and violent behaviour.
‘As shocking as this incident it is important remember that events like this are incredibly rare on the railway network, and in this case BTP officers were on scene within minutes and able to quickly arrest Hawrylewicz and bring him into police custody where he’s remained throughout the investigation.’
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