Sanchez Brown

A teenager was jailed indefinitely today (Thursday) for stabbing a Good Samaritan on a bus after the have-a-go hero tried to stop him verbally abusing passengers, including a pregnant lady and a group of elderly women

Sanchez Brown, 19, knifed 33-year-old Tim Smits in the stomach and leg in front of horrified passengers when he asked the thug to stop insulting the women, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.

The graphic designer spent three nights in hospital after the “vicious” attack on the 488 between Dalston and Bromley-by-Bow on September 14 last year.

He later suffered from depression and mood swings, which led to the breakdown of his relationship. But despite his ordeal, Mr Smits, who now lives in Hackney, said he would “do it again in a flash”.

Just a month later, on October 13, Brown left a student with a fractured eye socket after robbing him outside Hackney Downs railway station.

Jailing Brown for a minimum of five years and nine months, Judge John Lafferty commented on the bricklayer’s “bad record” and said his learning disability was “no excuse”.

He added: “The offence you committed against Mr Smits was a particularly vicious and unpleasant offence.

“You behaved when you were on that bus in an anti-social, bullying and threatening manner.”

Speaking outside the court, Mr Smits said he was happy with brown’s sentence and added: “I really did fear for my life and thought ‘this is it’ and I really freaked out.

“When a knife is pulled out it’s a different ball game. I remember lying there in hospital, blood pouring out of me, and I was really scared.”

Australian Mr Smits, who moved to Britain two years ago, is currently setting up a creative festival to inspire young people.