A man has admitted the attempted murder of a stranger who he stabbed from behind in Streatham Hill.
Mark Brazant, 43, of Windmill Road, Ealing appeared at the Old Bailey on Thursday, 6th August where he pleaded guilty following a trial.
He will be sentenced on Wednesday, 16th September.
The court heard how Police were called at 17:23 hrs on Monday, 30th December 2019, to a report of a woman stabbed in Downton Avenue, Streatham Hill.
The victim was rushed to a local hospital. The stabbing occurred as she was pushing her child in a pushchair.
Thankfully, the child was not injured in the savage and cowardly attack.
Brazant repeatedly stabbed the victim from behind before he ran off down Downton Avenue away from the High Road. He left his victim for dead as she fell to the floor next to her baby.
Detectives from the Met’s Central South CID immediately launched a thorough investigation.
During the trial, the jury heard how in-depth CCTV enquiries enabled detectives to trace Brazant’s movements that day.
He had travelled all over London for hours on public transport in search of a victim.
Three days later, following extensive media coverage, Brazant handed himself into a police station.
Brazant was arrested and charged with attempted murder, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of a pointed/bladed article on Thursday, 2nd January.
Today he pleaded guilty to attempted murder, and he had already pleaded guilty to one count of possession of an offensive weapon, and three counts of pointed/bladed articles at the beginning of the trial.
Brazant had been released from prison only days earlier, after being jailed for attacking four women in one day.
Acting Detective Sergeant Mark Pascall, said:
“I am pleased with today’s result as Brazant originally claimed he wasn’t in sound mind at the time, but his words and actions following the attack showed otherwise. It was clear Brazant had a clear intent that day to cause harm. He is dangerous and unpredictable.
“We have no idea why he chose the victim he did but thankfully, and luckily, she wasn’t more seriously injured.
“I would like to thank the investigation team for extremely thorough enquiries that meant we were able to charge him so quickly and take him off the streets on London.
“I commend the victim for her bravery throughout the trial and courage to give evidence in front of the man who caused her serious harm.”
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