A man has been convicted of Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) after attacking a woman in her 60s with a samurai sword in a Mitcham apartment block - leaving her with slashes to her leg, hand and two broken ribs.

Francis Ogunyemi, 20, was convicted on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, at Kingston upon Thames Crown Court.

The incident occurred in a stairwell of an apartment building in Mitcham, where the victim faced a relentless attack.

Police said that the older woman managed to defend herself against Ogunymeni and provided officers with DNA which led his arrest.

A spokesperson for Merton Police said: “Our CID team noted the valiance, strength and courage of the victim at all stages of this incident and also that she fended off a much younger and stronger male, during what would have been a horrifically scary incident.”

Ogunyemi threw the victim down a flight of stairs and kept repeatedly attacking her in a “continuous barraged assault” but she fought back and tried to find safety in an apartment nearby.

He then forced himself inside the flat.

Ogunyemi grabbed the victim from behind while holding a short Samurai-style sword and threatened her life and as well as her sons.

She defended herself as he continued to attack her and received a cut on her hand during the struggle.

Ogunyemi slashed the victim's lower right leg as she lay on the floor before fleeing from the scene.

London Ambulance Service arrived soon later and found that she had two broken ribs following the attack.

Criminal Investigation Department (CID) launched an investigation into the case and worked to gather evidence against Ogunyemi, with the victim's full support.

The victim managed to pull out some of Ogunyemi's hair and this was sent to the lab for DNA testing, confirming Ogunyemi was a suspect.

He was found by police and charged on January 6 and held in custody until his court hearing.

A spokesperson for Merton Police said: “On Tuesday 5th September 2023, Francis OGUNYEMI, 20yrs old, was convicted after being charged with Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) at Kingston upon Thames Crown Court.

“It was found that he was responsible for attacking a female in her 60’s in a stairwell of a block of flats in Mitcham. The victim was thrown down some stairs and repeatedly jumped in a continuous barraged assault.

“The victim bravely fought him off and managed to get to a flat within the block, but Ogunyemi chased her and forced his way in. “He grabbed her from behind and held a short Samurai style sword up to her face, threatening to kill her, and her son.

“Valiantly and courageously, she fought him off again, receiving a cut to her hand from the sword in her defence. “Ogunyemi then chopped down causing a nasty laceration to her lower right leg as she laid on the floor, before fleeing the scene. “The LAS attended, to assist the victim and it was later found that the victim also received two broken ribs in the sustained attack. “CID immediately began an intensive investigation into the matter, building a strong case with the support of the victim. “She had managed to pull the suspects hair out during the assault, which was crucially submitted to the lab, where DNA confirmed a suspect.

“Ogunyemi had gone to ground and could not be located, but our South West Violence Suppression Unit was on the hunt, and using a variety of covert techniques located and arrested him. “Our CID team noted the valiance, strength and courage of the victim at all stages of this incident and also that she fended off a much younger and stronger male, during what would have been a horrifically scary incident.

“Ogunyemi was charged on the 6th January and has remained in prison since, keeping a violent offender off our streets for the foreseeable.”