Oxford Circus: Homeless man jailed for pushing stranger

On February 3, 24-year-old Brwa Shorsh pushed postman Tadeusz Potoczek off a platform at Oxford Circus station and into the path of an oncoming train.

Mr Potoczek, who was 60 at the time of the attack, was on his way home from work and had walked past Shorsh who was sitting on a bench.

Without any provocation, Shorsh leapt up and shoved him off the platform and onto the train tracks.

Mr Potoczek was pulled to safety by another commuter moments before he would have been hit.

Kurdish migrant Shorsh, who had been sleeping rough in England since 2020, ran off before the police arrived and was arrested later that day.

Brwa Shorsh (Image: BTP)

When he was arrested, Shorsh told officers the man had “looked at him disrespectfully”. 

Prosecutor Sam Barker told the jury: "This is a case about shocking and random violence. On February 3, 2024, the defendant pushed a total stranger off the platform at Oxford Circus station into the path of an oncoming train.”

Mr Potoczek was on the Oxford Circus Victoria Line southbound platform at around 3pm. 

As he walked to the far end of the platform where trains enter the station he noticed Shorsh, who was sitting on a platform bench and did not appear to be getting on or off any train. 

“As he drew level with him, Mr Shorsh without a word, without an explanation, or importantly any sort of provocation, leapt up and shoved him hard off the platform onto the tracks,” Mr Barker said.

Mr Potoczek managed not to fall forwards onto the electrified lines but instead stayed on his feet and dropped into the gap on the line. 

“To his horror, a train was coming into the station. It was actually at the mouth of the platform entrance,” Mr Barker said. 

Mr Potoczek was pulled to safety by another commuter, who described Shorsh as shouting: “What the f*** are you doing here?” 

The Tube driver, who pulled the emergency brake when he spotted Mr Potoczek’s bright postman jacket, said he was only a matter of seconds from disaster. 

Shorsh fled before police arrived but was arrested at Warren Street station at around 10.20pm the same evening. 

Mr Barker told the jury that when Shorsh was interviewed he admitted he had pushed the man onto the tracks. 

“He said he had done it because the man had given him a dirty look and he felt disrespected,” Mr Barker said. 

Shorsh further explained that he was already particularly upset because three young women on a passing train had looked at him disrespectfully, so he “was not able to stand it any longer” when he thought Mr Potoczek gave him a dirty look. 

The defendant said he had not intended to kill Mr Potoczek but was aware of the danger. 

“He said he did not care at all if the man died or did not die, because he was a fool for disrespecting him,” Mr Barker said. 

Mr Barker said the prosecution’s case is that the victim did not even look at Shorsh. 

“The prosecution have no idea why he behaved like this. No idea at all. The truth of it may be that there was no reason,” Mr Barker said. 

Shorsh said Mr Potoczek had been “very disrespectful to me” and he did not know a train was coming.

He admitted what he did was “scary”, but it was not intended to kill.

Mr Potoczek gave evidence at the trial. 

He told the jury he was on his way home from work when somebody "stood up sharply” and then “threw me”. 

Mr Potoczek, who said he had felt some force on his left arm, told the court: “I recognise I’m lucky because I (went) quite deep (on to the track). 

“I did not break anything and then I saw the lights.” 

Mr Potoczek said: “The angel who helped me. I met him today. I say thank you. He held my arm and help me to jump out.” 

Mr Justice Kelleher awarded the passerby who aided Mr Potoczek £1,000 after commending his bravery and quick reaction, the CPS said.

Shorsh later told the court: “I am sorry for what happened. I did not intend to kill him and I am not a murderer.”

He said in that split second “I wanted revenge”.

The jury deliberated for just over half and hour before finding Shorsh guilty of attempted murder.

Maxine Jarrousse-Jones, a senior crown prosecutor at the CPS, said: “Brwa Shorsh attempted to kill the victim by deliberately and forcefully pushing him into the path of an approaching train.

“He intended to harm the victim and it is impossible to imagine anything that could ever justify pushing anyone in front of a train like that.

“If not for the victim’s quick-thinking, the courage of the other passenger who came to his rescue and the speed at which the train driver brought the train to a halt, Shorsh’s actions could have cost the victim his life.

“Commuters should be able to travel freely without fear of violence or harm and I hope this sentencing is a reminder that such acts will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted as fully as the law allows.”