Tube attacker grabbed me and yelled: You're going on the tracks

A Tube passenger told today how he thought he was going to die as a thug dragged him towards live rail tracks during a robbery.

Christopher Deary, 20, clung on to railings as he tried to defend himself during the assault, which was witnessed by scores of commuters.

Daniel Sambrook, 20, had screamed: "You're going on to the tracks" after he and 21-year-old David Watts repeatedly beat Mr Deary at Dagenham East station.

During the assault his mobile phone containing pictures of his recently deceased grandfather was taken, as well as his Oyster card. At Snaresbrook crown court yesterday a judge warned Sambrook that he could face prison after he admitted causing Mr Deary actual bodily harm. He denied robbery and was cleared by jurors after a two-day trial. Watts had previously admitted robbing Mr Deary.

The case was a retrial after jurors failed to reach a verdict in December.

Today Mr Deary, from Dagenham, said the attack in November 2009 had left him mentally scarred.

"I had just finished training with my brother who is an electrician and was heading home when it happened," he said. "He [Sambrook] ran off and I thought that was the end, but he came back and started grabbing me, trying to get me on the tracks. The way he was pulling me - I feared for my life."

Mr Deary, who works as a caretaker for Newham council, said none of the other passengers came to his rescue.

"I was shocked. No one helped me, and it was a busy platform and everyone was just standing around watching. I was just holding on to the railings at the back and trying to block him at the same time." Jurors had been told how Sambrook threatened to shoot the 20-year-old if he fought back. After Watts demanded valuables, Sambrook walked off, only to return saying: "You're going on to the tracks."

Despite his ordeal, Mr Deary bravely approached the men, pleading for his phone's memory card which contained the pictures of his grandfather Peter. He said: "I didn't care what they did, I just wanted the memory card back - but they said they didn't have it."

He added: "The whole thing has left me too scared to get the Tube on my own - I get the bus everywhere now.These people think they can do what they want. I hope they get locked up."

Judge Nicholas Huskinson ordered reports on Sambrook and bailed him until March 31. He said: "I must make it clear that all sentencing options, including immediate custody, are open."