THIS is the shocking moment a thug kicks a man into the path of a van in a random broad daylight attack – as he’s set to be freed from prison.
James Hatcher, 41, was walking down Brighton Road in South , , on August 16, 2025, when he was attacked and could have died.
James now said he felt “devastated” after he got a letter telling him that his attacker is eligible for .
Paramedics were called to the scene, and James was taken by ambulance to St George’s Hospital with life-threatening injuries, including a bleed on the brain and broken legs, ribs, jaw and pelvis.
James was placed in an induced coma and underwent multiple life-saving operations before waking up six days later.
He had to relearn how to walk and, more than a year after the attack, is still undergoing to help with his mobility.
On June 4, 2026, James’ attacker, Salman Kamraman Karim, was found guilty of with intent at Croydon Crown and sentenced to 11 years in prison.
But on July 20, 2026, James received a letter from the Ministry of Justice saying that Karim was eligible for early release – just a few months into his sentence.
James, a tower crane operator, from Croydon, said: “It is sickening that he is eligible for early release.
“He got sentenced in June, and I am being told that he is eligible for early release.
“If it weren’t for the air ambulance staff, I would not be alive today.”
After getting his hair cut, James waited for the bus home, but due to delays, he decided to walk instead.
James had his noise-cancelling headphones in as he walked down Brighton Road when a man kicked him in front of an oncoming van.
“It was a really nice day. I had my haircut, and the bus wasn’t due for a while, so I decided to walk,” James said.
“I was walking along the road when a man came out of the vape shop and kicked me in front of an oncoming van.
“I hit the floor straight away; there was a crowd of people who circled me before the came and shut the road.”
The van driver spoke to officers at the scene and was not arrested, but a few days later, the arrested and charged Karim.
Due to other 999 call-outs, an ambulance couldn’t get to James for 30 minutes, he claimed, so the London Air Ambulance team arrived nine minutes later.
James was treated at the scene before an ambulance was available to blue-light him to St George’s Hospital.
He said: “I broke my legs, my pelvis, ribs, wrist, jaw and had a punctured lung – I had life-threatening injuries.
“I also had a bleed on the brain.
“I was placed in a coma for six days, and underwent multiple operations before I came around.”
On August 21, 2025, James woke from his coma, having no idea where he was.
When he woke up, James said he “couldn’t feel his legs” and realised he was lucky to be alive.
James said: “I came around and had no idea where I was.
“I was then told what happened to me. I just thought, ‘shit’, I am lucky to be alive.
“I didn’t think about it too much and wanted to focus on the recovery.”
James spent six weeks in hospital, where he had to relearn how to walk.
He was released from hospital in November 2025, but to this day, James said he still struggles with his mobility and is still unable to work.
At first, James said he learned to sit up from his chair, before gradually learning to walk down the hospital corridors.
“I still have to go physio now,” James said.
“At first I couldn’t feel either of my legs; they were really numb. But slowly but surely they came back, and I was able to move them.
“I go to group physio once a week now.”
During the trial, at Croydon Crown Court, Karim was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm and acquitted of attempted murder.
On June 4, 2026, Karim was sentenced to 11 years in prison.
At the trial, James didn’t want to see Karim’s face, but he decided to attend the sentencing and face down his attacker.
James said: “I was on my crutches; it was horrible to see him.
“I was looking him straight in the eyes, thinking, ‘you piece of s**t’.
“11 years was not a long enough punishment in my opinion; I could have died.”
On July 20, 2026, James received a letter from the Ministry of Justice saying that Karim was eligible for early release.
James said he is horrified that Karim is eligible, just over a year after the attack, when he is still dealing with the effects of what happened.
“I am still feeling the effects of what he did to me,” James said.
“I am unable to work; the fact that he is eligible for early release really hurts me.”
