Man beat railway worker, 61, to death with single punch after missing his train

A man has been found guilty of killing a 61-year-old Elizabeth line railway worker after missing his train, following an investigation by British Transport Police.

Ayodele Jamgbadi, 30, carried out the unprovoked attack that killed Jorge Ortega at Ilford station in December 2024, a jury at Inner London Crown Court unanimously determined yesterday.

The Trial of Facts, which commenced on Monday, September 14, was held after Jamgbadi, previously of Kingston Road, Ilford, was found unfit to face trial owing to serious mental health conditions.

The court handed down a Hospital Order under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act 1983, alongside a Restriction Order under Section 41, meaning Jamgbadi will remain detained in hospital and cannot be released without authorisation from the Secretary of State for Justice or the Mental Health Tribunal.

Mr Ortega, 61, was on duty on the evening of December 4 2024, when British Transport Police received reports of a serious assault at the station at approximately 8.50pm.

The court heard that Jamgbadi had grown agitated after apparently missing a train and had started kicking a wall on Platform 3.

Mr Ortega left a nearby staff room, where he had been with two colleagues, to check on the disturbance.

As they approached Jamgbadi, he struck Mr Ortega with a sudden left hook, causing him to fall backwards and hit his head on the ground.

The 61-year-old sustained a catastrophic brain injury and died in hospital on December 6, surrounded by his family.

Patrolling officers apprehended Jamgbadi at the station the next morning on suspicion of grievous bodily harm after recognising him from CCTV footage, in which he was wearing the same coat.

The court-imposed restriction order is designed to safeguard the public and ensure Jamgbadi receives appropriate treatment.

He cannot be discharged, transferred or given leave without approval from the Justice Secretary or a direction from the Mental Health Tribunal.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• Four men jailed for 'terrifying' tear gas attack that left victims vomiting blood
• Colonel found not guilty of mishandling allegations made by female soldier who killed herself
• Drug dealer ordered to pay back just £8,000 after making £185,000 in wide-scale operation

Mr Ortega's family paid tribute to him in a statement, describing him as "a loving husband, a devoted father and a wonderful grandfather".

They said: "He will always be loved. He will always be remembered."

BTP Detective Chief Inspector Paul Attwell said: "I would like to pay tribute to the dignity, strength and courage shown by Mr Ortega's family following his untimely loss. I recognise that their grief has been compounded by the length of time it has taken to reach this stage. I am grateful for the patience, support and understanding they have demonstrated throughout the investigation and the proceedings that have followed.

"Mr Ortega was a kind and hardworking man who was carrying out his duties as usual that evening, when he became the victim of a wholly unacceptable act of violence.

"Nobody should be subjected to abuse, intimidation or violence whilst travelling or working on the rail network. Protecting the public and rail staff remains a priority for the British Transport Police, and we are committed to relentlessly pursuing offenders and bringing them to justice."

Chris Fowler, Managing Director of GTS, which operates the Elizabeth line, said: "Jorge was a much loved and respected colleague, and his loss continues to be deeply felt by everyone who knew and worked alongside him.

"Today, our thoughts are first and foremost with Jorge’s family and with his friends and colleagues. They have shown enormous strength throughout what has been an incredibly difficult and painful period.

"Jorge lost his life simply doing his job, looking out for others and serving the people of London. We will continue to remember him for the colleague and person he was, and to support those closest to him.”

Andy Lord, London’s Transport Commissioner, said: "Our thoughts and deepest sympathies remain with the family, friends and colleagues of Jorge Ortega, who tragically died after being assaulted while at work.

"Everyone should be able to go about their day without fear or intimidation and it is unimaginable that someone could lose their life due to unprovoked violence while doing their job. The safety and wellbeing of our colleagues is paramount, and we have fully supported the British Transport Police with their investigation."

Full statement issued on behalf of family of Jorge Ortega

The statement read: "Jorge - Husband, Dad and Grandad

"We miss Jorge every single day. As a family, we wish he were here to see everything that has happened since he left us, and to share in the moments, both big and small, that we wish we could have experienced together.

"We want Jorge to be remembered for the life he lived, not for the way he was taken from us. He was a loving husband, a devoted father and a wonderful grandfather. He was hardworking, kind, generous, caring, funny, wise and incredibly talented. He had a gift for art and drawing, and his creativity and attention to detail were a special part of who he was. The artwork he created is something we proudly display in our homes, and it will always be a part of him that we can hold on to.

"For his wife, Jorge was not only her husband, but her best friend and the person she shared more than 38 years of her life with. The life they built together, the memories they made and the love they shared will always remain a part of our family.

"He also left behind five grandchildren who adored their Grandad. They loved the time they spent with him — whether it was going for walks in the forest with the dogs, going to soft play, or simply playing together at home. It breaks our hearts that they will have to grow up without him there to make new memories with them.

"But we will make sure they grow up knowing who their Grandad was, rather than simply knowing that he was taken away from us. We will tell them about his kindness, his humour, his talents, his wisdom and, most importantly, how deeply he loved his family.

"We are deeply grateful to everyone who has stood beside our family during what has been the darkest period of our lives.

"Nothing can bring Jorge back to us, and we will always carry the pain of his absence. But we will also carry his memory, his love and everything he gave to us.

"His legacy lives on in his family, in the lives he touched, in the artwork he created and in the memories we will continue to share.

"We will remember Jorge for the life he lived, the people he loved and the happiness he brought to those around him. He will always be loved. He will always be remembered."

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter