A man whose savage attack left a tube worker with a bleed on the brain has been jailed for three and a half years.

The 61-year-old TfL employee was working at Harrow on the Hill Underground station on May 21 when he was approached by 23-year-old Viorel Schiopu. 

Schiopu, of Lansdowne Road, Luton, spoke to him briefly before pushing through the barrier and throwing a packet of food at the TfL employee. 

Schiopu then walked away before returning to the ticket hall to launch an unprovoked attack. 

CCTV showed Schiopu with his back turned to the victim, before suddenly turning around and throwing a violent punch to his head. 

The 61-year-old man fell backwards to the ground unconscious. 

When a colleague heard the bang he ran over and phone 999, while Schiopu calmly left the station. 

The victim was rushed to a major trauma hospital where he was diagnosed with a bleed on the brain, a fractured skull and multiple facial fractures. 

CCTV images of Schiopu were shared widely and Schiopu handed himself in the next day. 

The victim remained in hospital for 12 days and is still recovering from the injuries. 

In his victim impact statement, he said: “To say the effects of the assault have been profound would be an understatement. It has changed everything, and my life is very different to what it used to be before….it feels like my freedom has been robbed from me.” 

On Wednesday (December 13) Schiopu appeared at Inner London Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm (GBH), actual bodily harm (ABH) and affray. 

He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison and an indefinite restraining order. 

He is banned from entering certain stations. 

Detective Constable Tony Gittins said: “This was a truly appalling and unprovoked attack on a member of staff simply trying to do their job, and they are very sadly continuing to suffer the severe physical and mental effects of what happened to this day. 

“Every member of staff should be able to go to work without fear of violence and we will always take a zero tolerance approach to such offending. This is clear from our swift and thorough investigation which has resulted in Schiopu being jailed – where he will now have time to reflect on the consequences of his actions. 

“While it could never make up for what happened, I hope the victim is able to take some comfort from the fact justice has been served today and begin to start rebuilding his life as he knew it.” 

Mandy McGregor, head of policing and community safety at Transport for London, said: “Our staff have the right to do their job without fear or intimidation and we do not tolerate any violence, aggression or threatening behaviour towards them. 

“This was an appalling act of violence against a member of staff who was just trying to do their job and we're pleased that the offender has been brought to justice. 

“Everyone should be able to go about their day without fear or intimidation. We will always work with the police to push for the strongest sentences possible for offenders, and work with our staff and their unions to do everything we can to keep them safe.”