Ley Street stabbing: Ilford man who knifed shop worker more than 30 times sent to secure unit

Leon Scott stabbed the victim around 30 times. Picture: Met Police (Image: Archant)

Leon Scott, 41, of Drayton Close, was found guilty of attempted murder at the Old Bailey and was sentenced to a hospital order on Thursday, November 29.

This means due to the risk he poses to the public he will be sectioned under the Mental Heath Act until health authorities say otherwise.

The court heard that the 31-year-old victim was speaking to two people outside his Ley Street shop when Scott, armed with two knives, suddenly launched his attack on the morning of November 27, 2017.

The incident was witnessed by several members of the public, including a mother with her young children, and a number of pupils on their way to school.

Police cordon on Ley street at the time of the attack (Image: Archant)

Scott knifed the victim for several minutes and stabbed him in multiple parts of his body and tried to cut his throat.

Hearing screams, a brave father of one on his way to work ran over to intervene and Scott casually walked off towards the Jaffa Road Estate.

The hero dad then helped administer first aid before paramedics arrived.

The two knives used in the attack were recovered from the scene and Scott was arrested a short time after the incident and charged on November 28, 2017, with attempted murder.

The victim was taken to hospital in critical condition and continues to suffer lasting nerve damage to his arm.

The shop worker said: “I am in so much pain and I can’t sleep.

“I feel down because of my scars and also the pain - I feel down, angry, depressed and I am scared to go out and I don’t feel safe in public.

“I think about the incident all the time, I don’t feel happy anymore, it feels like I lost everything - I have lost the will to live.”

Acting Det Sgt Jeremy Collins, of East Area CID, said the incident was a frenzied, random attack which was unprovoked and came totally out of the blue.

“The level of violence used was absolutely shocking, and amongst the worst I have seen,” he said.

“The scene that unfolded that morning is the stuff of nightmares, and the victim has endured lasting physical injury and psychological trauma as a result.

“The victim was stabbed 30 times, and it is very fortunate that he was not killed. The member of the public who helped stop the attack deserves particular recognition.

“Scott was quickly identified as a suspect, arrested and taken into custody.

“He is a dangerous offender, and the sentence reflects that.”