A thug has been given a life sentence after he stabbed a homeless man in the neck while he was sleeping near Liverpool Street station. 

At around 4.10am on August 24, 2022, Izet Mehmed was asleep on cardboard in a doorway near the station when without warning Egidijus Kotovas stabbed him in the neck. 

The 29-year-old knifeman then wiped his blade on a piece of cardboard nearby before cycling away, a court heard. 

Izet managed to stumble away to find help and was found by two officers lying face down outside a café in Bishopsgate. 

He was taken to Royal London Hospital with life threatening injuries.

Izet survived the attack and is now living in permanent accommodation but still suffers physically, City of London Police said.

Kotovas was arrested when he was spotted on his bike at the scene of the attack at 2am the following day. 

Det Ch Insp Jim Halkett, of City of London Police, said: “This horrific incident kept me awake, as without doubt had he not been caught, Kovotas would have gone on to attack more vulnerable victims.” 

Kotovas, a Norwegian who had been living in the UK for three years at the time of the attack, was found guilty of attempted murder and two counts of possession of knives at Southwark Crown Court. 

He has now been jailed for life with a minimum term of 14 years and 242 days. 

DCI Halkett said: “The quick apprehension of Kovotas within 24 hours was down to diligent and meticulous work by our officers. Through DNA profiling and an overwhelming amount of evidence, we were able to secure this conviction and put this highly dangerous individual behind bars. 

“This was a savage and unprovoked attack on a vulnerable member of the public. I would also like to praise the quick response from our officers first at the scene, who administered immediate first aid, preventing this from being a murder investigation.” 

Ruby Sayed, who chairs the City of London Corporation’s community and children’s services committee, said: “This was a frightening attack on someone who was already vulnerable. I am however pleased that the victim has made a full recovery and that the offender has been sentenced. 

“We are absolutely committed to addressing the root causes of homelessness and supporting rough sleepers into safe, long-term accommodation."

Kotovas, of Odvar Solbergs vei in Oslo, will be subject to licence conditions for the rest of his life if he is released from prison.