Tube attacker admits trying to drag Notting Hill Carnival-goer in front of King’s Cross train

A 42-year-old man who drunkenly tried to pull a woman in front of a Tube train as she travelled to Notting Hill Carnival has pleaded guilty to attempted murder. Arthur Hawrylewicz, of Avondale Gardens, Cardiff, admitted the charge at Inner London Crown Court on Monday and will be sentenced on April 24. British Transport Police said the 22-year-old victim was at King’s Cross Underground station waiting for a Hammersmith and City line train with her friends at around 1.30pm when Hawrylewicz spoke to her. She could see that he was drunk and asked him to leave her alone, but instead he grabbed her from behind, picked her up and attempted to hurl himself and his victim in front of an oncoming train. Her friends managed to pull her free, while Hawrylewicz was hit on the head by the oncoming train and knocked unconscious. When questioned in hospital the next day, he said he had drunk three beers and a third of a bottle of vodka, and had gone to the station with the intention of harming himself. He said he could not remember any interaction with the victim.

Detective Sergeant Mike Blakeburn, from BTP, said: “This was a completely unprovoked and incredibly disturbing attack which will have been beyond terrifying for the victim – a young woman who was on her way to enjoy a day at Notting Hill Carnival with her friends. “Had it not been for their brave actions pulling her from Hawrylewicz’s clutches, we could easily have been dealing with a murder investigation. “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 is, it is important to 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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