A man who was pushed in front of a Tube train by a complete stranger feared he would lose his life, a court heard. 

Homeless man Brwa Shorsh, 24, is on trial accused of attempting to murder Tadeusz Potoczek by pushing him onto the tracks at Oxford Circus. 

Mr Potoczek, a postman, was pulled to safety by another commuter moments before disaster.  

When he was arrested Shorsh told officers he did it because Mr Potoczek had “looked at him disrespectfully”. 

On Monday afternoon (July 29) Mr Potoczek gave evidence at the trial. 

He told the jury he was on his way home from work when somebody "stood up sharply” and then “threw me”. 

Mr Potoczek, who said he had felt some force on his left arm, told the court: “I recognise I’m lucky because I (went) quite deep (on to the track). 

“I did not break anything and then I saw the lights.” 

Speaking from behind a screen in court on Monday, Mr Potoczek said: “The angel who helped me. I met him today. I say thank you. He held my arm and help me to jump out.” 

He added that he thought he could “lose my life” as the train approached. 

Earlier on Monday prosecutor Sam Barker told the jury: “This is a case about shocking and random violence. On February 3, 2024, the defendant pushed a total stranger off the platform at Oxford Circus station into the path of an oncoming train.” 

Mr Potoczek managed not to fall forwards onto the electrified line but instead stayed on his feet and dropped into the gap on the line.  

“To his horror, a train was coming into the station. It was actually at the mouth of the platform entrance,” Mr Barker said.  

Mr Potoczek was pulled to safety by another commuter, who described Shorsh as shouting: “What the f*** are you doing here?”  

The Tube driver, who pulled the emergency brake when he spotted Mr Potoczek’s bright postman jacket, said it was only a matter of seconds from disaster.  

Shorsh fled before police arrived but was arrested at Warren Street station at around 10.20pm the same evening.  

Mr Barker told the jury that when Shorsh was interviewed he admitted he had pushed the man onto the tracks.  

“He said he had done it because the man had given him a dirty look and he felt disrespected,” Mr Barker said.  

Shorsh further explained that he was already particularly upset because three young women on a passing train had looked at him disrespectfully, so he “was not able to stand it any longer” when he thought Mr Potoczek gave him a dirty look.  

The defendant said he had not intended to kill Mr Potoczek but was aware of the danger.  

“He said he did not care at all if the man died or did not die, because he was a fool for disrespecting him,” Mr Barker said.  

Mr Barker said the prosecution’s case is that the victim did not even look at Shorsh.  

“The prosecution have no idea why he behaved like this. No idea at all. The truth of it may be that there was no reason,” Mr Barker said.  

The trial at Inner London Crown Court continues.