A man has been jailed for 16 years after storming into his former workplace at an Argos distribution warehouse in south London and stabbing five people.
Babah Sesay, 31, of Rodney Road, Southwark, was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court on Friday, August 29. He had been swiftly arrested by Met officers shortly after the attack in January.
Sesay admitted ten offences in March, including five counts of wounding with intent, two counts of aggravated burglary, one count of actual bodily harm, one count of assault by beating and one count of possession of an offensive weapon.
On the morning of Thursday, January 23, Sesay burst into the warehouse in Marlowe Way, Beddington, and attacked several of his former colleagues as they tried to restrain him.
Five men – one in his 50s, two in their 30s and two in their 20s – were taken to hospital. Their injuries were later confirmed to be neither life-threatening nor life-changing.
Chief Superintendent Nick Blackburn, local policing commander for south London, said: “This significant jail term provides justice to the victims and highlights to the people of London that we will not tolerate violence in any form.
“No one should go to work and fear for their safety. The swift actions of our first responding officers meant no one was seriously hurt in this terrifying incident and I’d like to personally thank them again for their bravery.”
Sesay fled the scene but was caught a short time later at a nearby fast-food restaurant after officers flooded the area. He was taken to hospital with minor injuries following his arrest, before being transferred to custody.
A charge of criminal damage was left to lie on file.
