A 30-year-old man who delivered a fatal punch to an Elizabeth Line customer assistant at Ilford station has been made the subject of an indefinite hospital order with restrictions, following a trial of the issues at Inner London Crown Court.

Jurors unanimously concluded that Ayodele Jamgbadi carried out the physical act that caused the death of 61-year-old Jorge Ortega. Mr Jamgbadi, of Kingston Road, Ilford, had been charged with murder but was deemed unfit to enter a plea or stand a standard trial due to severe mental illness.

Under the terms of the hospital order, British Transport Police (BTP) confirmed that Mr Jamgbadi will remain detained for psychiatric treatment and cannot be discharged, transferred, or granted leave without the approval of the Secretary of State for Justice or a Mental Health Tribunal.

The court heard that the incident took place on 4 December 2024 on platform three after Mr Jamgbadi missed a train and began kicking an advertising frame and a wall. Mr Ortega, a grandfather-of-five, stepped out of a platform office with two Transport for London colleagues to ask if he was alright and attempt to calm him down.

Co-worker Mohammed Alim gave evidence describing how Mr Jamgbadi appeared disturbed, asked "who’s got a problem?", and advanced towards Mr Ortega. Mr Alim told the jury: "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."

Colleagues and passengers carried Mr Ortega into an office, while Mr Jamgbadi pushed through ticket barriers and left the station. When arrested the following day, prosecutor Patrick Dennis told the court Mr Jamgbadi said to officers: "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 died in hospital two days later. Pathologist Dr Michael Parsons concluded the cause of death was a severe blunt force head injury sustained when he struck the concrete platform from a standing height, likely knocked unconscious by the punch before he could break his fall.

Mr Ortega was a member of the RMT trade union and worked as a customer experience assistant for MTREL, which operates the Elizabeth Line. In a statement issued through police after the hearing, his family described him as a hardworking, talented artist and a "loving husband, a devoted father and a wonderful grandfather" whom they miss every single day.

BTP Detective Chief Inspector Paul Attwell paid tribute to the dignity and strength shown by Mr Ortega's family, saying he recognised that their grief had been compounded by the time taken to conclude the proceedings.