A man has pleaded guilty to a pub stabbing in Hayes that left a man needing life-saving surgery.
The incident, which occurred earlier this year at the Blue Lagoon pub, resulted in the 34-year-old victim being stabbed through the liver with a kitchen knife.
On Wednesday (June 10), Michael Flamur Shehu, 22, of Varcoe Gardens in Hayes, appeared on remand at Isleworth Crown Court where he admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent, Met Police said.
He will be sentenced on Wednesday July 8.
Police were called at around 2.45am on Saturday March 7 to the pub in Woodend Green Road, Hayes, following an altercation between two groups of men.
The dispute started after one man played a prank on an associate of Shehu's by temporarily taking his crutches away from him.
An argument developed between the two groups which progressed into a physical altercation close to the dancefloor of the pub, police said.
During this incident, which lasted a minute, Shehu withdrew a red kitchen knife and stabbed the victim in the abdomen.
Shehu and his associates then immediately fled the venue leaving the victim collapsed and heavily bleeding on the floor.
Police and paramedics from the London Ambulance Service attended and the victim was rushed to St Mary's Hospital in Paddington where he underwent life-saving surgery to his liver, transfusions for significant blood loss and intensive care.
The victim has since been discharged from hospital but is still recovering from his injuries.
Officers attended the scene and recovered the blood-stained knife. This was later discovered to have traces of Shehu's DNA on it.
Officers also seized Shehu's vehicle, a Vauxhall Vectra, which had been parked and abandoned in the Blue Lagoon car park. Inside the vehicle officers discovered another knife, green in colour.
Following appeals and enquiries to trace his whereabouts, Shehu handed himself into Uxbridge police station on Monday May 25 where he was immediately arrested and subsequently charged.
Acting Detective Sergeant Paul Matthews said: "Medical experts have verified that this victim was a small fraction away from losing his life, with a 5cm knife wound which miraculously missed his spleen.
"Another miracle that day was the immediate first aid given to the victim by an off-duty nurse who was enjoying a night off at the pub.
"Throughout this investigation every forensic opportunity has been explored and used to help us bring the best evidential case against Shehu before the courts."
As a result of a licensing review into the Blue Lagoon conducted by officers at Hillingdon and the local authority, a three-month closure order was served to the venue's management in early March.
This followed a number of complaints from local residents and incidents of violence and antisocial behaviour occurring at the venue. This review is ongoing.
