A fashion designer who died in the Camberwell tower block blaze gave evidence just weeks earlier against a patient who escaped Springfield Hospital in Tooting.

Catherine Hickman, 31, was working in her Notting Hill boutique when she was held at knife-point by a robber in November.

She gave evidence against John Slavin, 44, at Southwark Crown Court, although police do not believe this was connected to the fire.

She told the court he pointed a knife at her face and said: “Right, girl, don’t do anything stupid otherwise I will stab you.”

According to her, he made off with a laptop after she told him there was no money.

Slavin escaped his psychiatric ward last year with fellow patient John Claydon and went on the run for several days.

His case has been adjourned for reports on his mental state until July 22.

The fire and the robbery were just the latest in a string of unlucky incidents involving Miss Hickman.

She narrowly escaped death in the 7/7 bombings as well as those on 9/11, when she had an appointment at the World Trade Centre but slept in.

Miss Hickman, who has made clothes for Kylie Minogue and Bjork, died in a fire at her flat on Friday, July 3, in Lakanal House along with five others.