A train passenger who committed an Elizabeth line worker killing with a single punch at Ilford station after missing his train has been told he will be detained in hospital indefinitely.
Ayodele Jamgbadi, 30, of Kingston Road, Ilford, floored 61-year-old Jorge Ortega with one blow to the face on the evening of 4 December 2024. Mr Ortega, a grandfather-of-five, hit his head on the concrete platform and died two days later of a severe traumatic brain injury.
Jamgbadi was charged with murder but was deemed unfit to stand trial because of significant mental health issues. On Wednesday, 16 September, a jury sitting as part of a trial of issue at Inner London Crown Court unanimously agreed that Jamgbadi did the act that led to Mr Ortega’s death, bringing the murder investigation to its conclusion.
Hospital order with restrictions follows Elizabeth line worker killing
The court handed Jamgbadi a Hospital Order under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act 1983, alongside a Restriction Order under Section 41. The British Transport Police said the order was aimed at ensuring he receives appropriate treatment and at protecting the public.
Under the order, Jamgbadi remains detained in hospital for treatment and cannot be discharged, transferred or granted leave without the approval of the Secretary of State for Justice, or a direction of the Mental Health Tribunal. It is a markedly different outcome from a conventional prison sentence – a Deliveroo worker convicted of a London bus stop rape was jailed for 21 years – reflecting the court’s finding that Jamgbadi was mentally unwell and unfit to stand trial.
Judge Benedict Kelleher told the jury that Jamgbadi was mentally unwell and not fit to stand trial, and was receiving treatment in hospital. The trial of facts began on Monday, 14 September.
What happened at Ilford station
Mr Ortega and two other Transport for London employees had stepped out of an office to try and calm Jamgbadi, who had grown agitated after apparently missing a train and began kicking a wall and an advertising frame on platform three.
BTP said the reports of a serious assault came in at about 8.50pm. As the three workers approached, Jamgbadi struck Mr Ortega with a sudden punch described in court as being delivered with significant force. He fell backwards and hit his head on the ground.
Jamgbadi was arrested the next morning, 5 December 2024, after returning to Ilford station, where patrolling officers recognised him from CCTV footage wearing the same coat. He was initially held on suspicion of grievous bodily harm before the charge was upgraded to murder following Mr Ortega’s death.
Prosecutor Patrick Dennis told the court what Jamgbadi said on arrest: “What are you going to do about it? I punched him in the face. I literally punched him in the face. Are you going to nick me then?”
Mr Ortega’s colleague, Mohammed Alim, told the court the man “seemed a bit disturbed, a bit angry and just said ‘who’s got a problem?’”. He added: “Within a split second, he swung a punch on Jorge’s left-hand side. The attacker used his right hand. It struck Jorge near the temple area. The impact of the punch was with so much force that I saw something fly out of his mouth. He was floored. He hit the back of his head.”
Pathologist Dr Michael Parsons, who carried out the post-mortem examination, concluded: “Jorge Ortega died as the result of a severe blunt force head injury, the pattern of which is characteristic of a heavy impact to the back of the head. He had also sustained soft tissue injuries around the right eye that would support a heavy punch to the face being the event that precipitated an accelerated fall to the ground and setting in motion the sequence of clinical events that resulted in death.”
Family tribute and police statement
After the finding, Mr Ortega’s family paid tribute to him in a statement released via the police:
“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.”
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.”
Reporting based on the Press Association via hellorayo.co.uk, corroborated by railadvent.co.uk.
