A man with paranoid schizophrenia who pushed a 91-year-old onto the train tracks at a tube station has been jailed for a minimum of 12 years.

Paul Crossley, 47, of Leyton, was captured on CCTV shoving former Eurotunnel boss Sir Robert Malpas onto the tracks at Marble Arch in central London on April 27 last year - and it came just minutes after he tried to push a 23-year-old man twice onto the tracks at Tottenham Court Road station.

Sir Robert sustained multiple fractures to his pelvis and a serious wound to his head which required twelve stitches. A passer-by ran to help, sustaining a burn to his hand, as he pulled drag the 91-year-old to safety.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

The 91-year-old man can be seen lying in a pit after being shoved by Crossley

Sir Robert spent a week in hospital before he was discharged.

Moments before Crossley pushed the former Eurotunnel co-chairman onto the tracks, he had tried to push another man onto the line at Tottenham Court Road. CCTV showed Crossley jump from his seat and push a man in the back as a Central line was approaching.

But the victim was able to keep his balance. Crossley was able to get away on a westbound Central line service, leaving at Marble Arch, before pushing Sir Robert onto the tracks.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Crossley shoves a 23-year-old man but he is able to keep his balance as a Central line train approaches

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Crossley gets away as the Central line train arrives into Tottenham Court Road station barely a second after the failed shove

Crossley was caught by members of the public at Marble Arch and detained by British Transport Police officers.

At the Old Bailey in October last year, Crossley was found guilty of two counts of attempted murder.

At the same court on Monday, following several months of psychiatric assessment, he was sentenced to a hospital order until he is deemed fit for prison. He will then serve a life sentence with a minimum of 12 years.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Paul Crossley is not deemed fit for prison yet

Detective Inspector Darren Gough, said: "It has been a long and traumatic process for his two victims and I would like to commend them for their strength and resilience throughout its entirety. The physical and emotional impact of such a determined and unprovoked attack really cannot be underestimated.

"I would also like to echo the judge's comments in recognising the exceptional bravery of the members of the public who stepped in and restrained Crossley on 27 April 2018. Without them, the damage he could have gone on to cause simply doesn't bare thinking about."