A father-of-four has spoken of his relief after the man who brutally stabbed him 15 times on the streets of Hounslow finally admitted his guilt.

Mateen Butt, 39, almost died after the attack near his home in Brabazon Road, when 21-year-old Darryl Paul slashed his leg and stabbed at his chest, leaving him to die in the street.

Mr Butt, who has still not fully recovered two years on, watched Paul, now 23, plead guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent at the Old Bailey on Monday.

The shopkeeper said: “When I walked into that courtroom I could not look at him.

“Here was the man who broke my body and almost ruined my marriage.

“I thought if I stared at him his face would be in my dreams forever.”

He spoke of the moment of the attack: “Two years ago I was just sitting in my car and this gang of men came over and I thought it was strange as I didn’t know any of them.

“They asked for our mobile phones and after we gave them over they asked for money.

“I tried to get out of the car and a man pulled a knife out.

“It was then he pulled the knife and stabbed my leg and he kept stabbing me. My arm was bleeding, the blood was flowing out of me on to the street.

“The others were shouting ‘kill him’ and I just remember seeing my blood everywhere.

“When the ambulance came I just thought they would take me to hospital, but they told me I had lost too much blood.

“That is when I thought I was dying.

“I begged the paramedics to take me home so I could see my children and my wife before I died.

“Then everything went black, people have told me since there was blood everywhere.

“When I woke up I couldn’t remember what had happened but slowly everything came back and it was terrifying.

“He ruined my life, ruined my body, my wife argued and rowed afterwards. My arm is still sore and it is hard to get any sleep.

“I would have nightmares when I closed my eyes and if I see two or three men walking down the street I panic.

“But the police were brilliant, and supportive.

“Now I just want to get on with my life, I will never forget his face but I have to move on.

“Even talking about it brings tears to my eyes and my body is a constant reminder of him.

“I hope he gets a long sentence because he is a truly dangerous man.”

Paul, who is in custody, will be sentenced on May 27.

Police are still appealing for witnesses to the attack on June 4, 2007, at 7.30pm as the remainder of the gang are at large.

Call Detective Sergeant Martin Siertsema on 020 8247 6160.