A family’s dream trip to London turned into a nightmare in Leicester Square when an 11-year-old girl was brutally attacked as she left a Lego store with her mother. The pair were visiting from Australia, eager to experience the excitement of a Taylor Swift concert, unaware of the horror that awaited them.
Ioan Pintaru, a 33-year-old man, suddenly lunged at the girl, seizing her in a headlock. He then repeatedly stabbed her in the face, neck, and shoulder with a kitchen knife, unleashing a terrifying assault that left the young victim fearing for her life.
The girl recounted to police feeling a sudden impact from behind, followed by an arm wrapping tightly around her. Overwhelmed by Pintaru’s weight, she instantly believed she was going to die, the chilling sensation of blood streaming down her face adding to the unimaginable terror.
Her mother, witnessing the attack unfold, was convinced she was watching her daughter being murdered. The horrifying scene, replayed endlessly in her mind, left her paralyzed with fear and grief. She described Pintaru’s movements as relentless, like a “jackhammer,” fueled by a terrifying, vacant intensity.
A quick-thinking security guard, Abdullah, working nearby, bravely intervened. He managed to wrestle the knife from Pintaru’s grip, kicking it away before, with the help of two other men, pinning the attacker down until police arrived.
A passing nurse immediately provided crucial first aid, stemming the bleeding until paramedics could reach the scene. While the girl has physically recovered from her wounds, the psychological scars run deep, a constant reminder of the brutal attack.
Pintaru, during police questioning, became visibly distressed at the thought of confronting the extent of his violence. He broke down in tears, refusing to view CCTV footage of the assault or images of the girl’s injuries.
The court learned Pintaru had a history of mental health issues, having previously been admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Romania. Following the attack, he claimed he hadn’t *wanted* to harm anyone, but believed he was being followed and that imprisonment was his only escape.
Pintaru has now been detained indefinitely in a secure hospital under a Section 37 and Section 41 order of the Mental Health Act. The judge acknowledged the lasting trauma inflicted upon the young girl, recognizing the “invisible scars” that will remain with her for a lifetime.
