A thug stabbed a homeless man after waking him up as he slept on a trampoline by bouncing up and down on it.
The victim, 31, was stabbed in the stomach in the late-night attack at a children's play area in St Mary’s Churchyard in Elephant and Castle.
Police said the culprit was with a group of friends when he started jumping on the trampoline as the homeless man was sleeping on it just before 3am on Saturday, September 19.
The man got off when the victim woke up, but he was then pelted with projectiles as he tried to get back to sleep, police said.
The rough sleeper was then attacked after trying to speak to the man and his friends.
The culprit approached and stabbed him in the stomach before leaving the playground off Newington Butts with his friends, police said.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “As he attempted to get back to sleep items were thrown at him.
“The victim attempted to speak with the group but the suspect stood up, walked towards him and stabbed. The suspect left the park with his friends.
“The victim was taken to hospital for treatment to a small puncture wound to his stomach and has since been discharged.”
Police appealed for witnesses to come forward.
The culprit was described as a dark black man, aged in his early 30s, of medium build with a thin trimmed beard. He was with a group of four men and two women.
Anyone with information should call Southwark CID via 101 quoting reference 3027157/15 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
