Viorel Schiopu, 23, returned to launch the “appalling and unprovoked attack” after pushing through the ticket barriers at Harrow-on-the-Hill Underground Station just after midnight on May 21, last year.
He had initially spoken to the victim and thrown the contents of a packet he was eating from at the Transport for London employee before CCTV showed him returning to continue the conversation and then suddenly land the blow.
Schiopu, of Lansdowne Road, Luton pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm; actual bodily harm and affray and is subject to an indefinite restraining order, prohibiting contact with the victim and entering certain stations.
The blow knocked the worker backwards and he fell to the ground unconscious – causing a loud bang heard by a colleague.
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.
Later that day British Transport Police (BTP) released CCTV images of Schiopu, which were shared widely on social media, leading to him handing himself into police the next day.
The victim remained in hospital for twelve days and is still slowly 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.”
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.
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