Mum jailed for tram knife attack

2:40pm Monday 2nd April 2007

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A woman has been jailed for stabbing two tram passengers during a terrifying daylight knife attack.

In front of shocked passengers and her toddler son Sandra Bell whipped out a blade and plunged it into a 14-year-old girl, Croydon Crown Court heard.

“The use of knives on the public transport system will not be tolerated by British Transport Police and a jail term in this case shows just how seriously the courts take these types of offences."

Detective Sergeant Darren Stenning

The 44-year-old mum, of Wingate Crescent, also struck pensioner Ronald Bartholemew, cutting his face.

The horror unfolded on a New Addington to West Croydon tram on August 31 last year.

The court was told Bell got into an argument with her young victim. After a struggle the teenager fled to the front of the tram and sheltered behind Mr Bartholemew.

But Bell followed and as her three-year-old son screamed in terror she pulled out a six-inch knife and attacked her two victims.

The hearing was told no one on the tram stepped forward to help and a number of men ignored what was going on.

The girl, who needed 13 stitches to her wounds, and Mr Bartholemew were taken to Mayday Hospital.

Gilles Bedloe, defending, said Bell had felt intimidated and that there was also aggression from the girl.

Bell admitted causing grievous bodily harm and actual bodily harm and was jailed for two-and-a- half years.

British Transport Police Detective Sergeant Darren Stenning said: "This was a serious incident where two passengers were set upon by another passenger. One was a young girl and the other an older man who both suffered injuries in the attack. "The use of knives on the public transport system will not be tolerated by British Transport Police and a jail term in this case shows just how seriously the courts take these types of offences. "It is hoped that the young victim and elderly male in this incident can now move on from their ordeal."