A brave bus passenger stabbed while protecting three OAPs from a gang of yobs watched one of the “scariest people” he has ever seen admit to the crime in court.

Tim Smits, 32, an Australian who lives in Islington, was knifed in the stomach and leg as he stood up to cowardly thugs threatening elderly women on the 488 bus in September.

Sanchez Brown, 19, of Lower Clapton Road, Hackney, faces jail after admitting wounding with intent at Snaresbrook Crown Court last Thursday.

He will be sentenced at a later date, and Mr Smits told the Gazette he feels in limbo until the case is concluded.

He said: “Being in court brought everything back to the surface, but I haven’t got any closure because he hasn’t been sentenced.

“I know he will go to prison, but I don’t know how long for.

“His sentence should send a message that if you do the crime you do the time, not just for me, but for the safety of the wider community.

“When I saw him in court my heart started racing. I remember him being a pretty scary looking lad on the bus – one of the scariest people I have ever been face-to-face with. He looked equally intimidating in court – it’s hard to believe he was only 18.”

Mr Smits said that, four months on, his life has still not returned to normal.

“I’ve had to take quite a lot of time off work – I was in bed for four weeks and I could barely walk around for the first seven weeks.

“I am walking now, but not running. There is lot of tissue damage that can take years to heal.”

He added: “But I am on the up. It’s only been four months, in another six months I should be back to good again.”