A ruffian who stabbed a good Samaritan five times for protecting a woman was sentenced to 20 years in prison last Friday.

Abtidoon Diriye, 21, of no fixed abode, was found guilty of attempted murder at Kingston Crown Court after an eight day trial for stabbing his victim on October 15 last year.

The incident, which started because Diriye was holding up a bus in Acton, left the victim in a critical condition and needing surgery to save his life.

Ealing Borough CID Detective Sergeant, Kevin Harvey said: "The victim was so badly injured by Diriye that he lost two litres of blood and had to have two sections of his bowel removed. He nearly died and in total he received five stab wounds and a number of lacerations. Fortunately he has made a full physical recovery, but the mental scars still remain.”

Diriye got on the N207 bus to Uxbridge at around 4.40am, but stood in the doorway and refused to let the bus leave the stop for 5 or 6 minutes.

He began arguing with the driver and when a woman from the upper deck came down to relay the passengers’ annoyance Diriye became aggressive towards her.

The victim intervened, fearing for the woman’s safety, and after a scuffle broke out, the bus stopped along Acton Vale High Street.

Diriye followed the victim off of the bus for about 15 minutes down the high street towards the Winchester Road junction.

He then shouted for a cigarette lighter, and when the victim turned around, Diriye charged at him and stabbed him 4 times in the abdomen.

The victim tried to run away but collapsed 50 metres down the road, Diriye then stabbed him once more in the lower back before fleeing the scene.

The victim did manage to wave down a passing bus and the driver called the emergency services.

Diriye was identified from CCTV footage.

DS Harvey said: "Whilst we would not want members of the public to put themselves in harm's way, the victim's heroic actions in stopping a woman from coming to serious harm at a great cost to himself is both courageous and brave.

"The victim's public-spirited intervention in trying to stop these violent men should be praised. I am pleased that Diriye has been made to pay for his actions with lengthy custodial sentences."