BTP Investigation Leads to Guilty Plea Over Bognor Regis Station Knife Attack

A man has admitted carrying out an unprovoked knife attack at Bognor Regis railway station after an investigation by British Transport Police.

Jason McDonagh, 22, of no fixed address, appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday 2 January, where he pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm and two counts of possession of a bladed article. He was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced at the same court on Friday 27 February.

The court was told the incident followed events that began in the early hours of Tuesday 25 November 2025. The victim had been at a friend’s flat when McDonagh arrived, acting aggressively towards both men before falling asleep. After leaving briefly to get food, the pair returned to find McDonagh awake and once again behaving aggressively.

At around 8.20am, the two men left the flat again, with McDonagh remaining behind despite being asked to leave. A short time later, McDonagh emerged from an alleyway and threw a glass bottle and a kitchen knife at the victim. He then picked up the knife and chased him towards Bognor Regis railway station, holding knives in both hands.

In the station forecourt, McDonagh lunged at the victim, causing a significant slash injury to his right arm. The attack continued, with the victim knocked to the ground before managing to escape and run away.

Sussex Police officers arrived quickly following calls from members of the public, and McDonagh was located and detained shortly afterwards. The victim was taken to hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery for a deep wound to his arm.

British Transport Police said the incident unfolded at a busy time at the station, causing distress among witnesses. BTP Detective Constable Christopher May said:

"McDonagh has never explained his horrific actions on that day. He was only loosely known to the victim and by all accounts his actions were completely unprovoked. The attack took place at a busy station in front of horrified onlookers, and in fact just seconds before a group of young schoolchildren had been escorted into the station by their teachers. McDonagh showed absolutely no regard for these people, or indeed the terrified victim who continues to recover from the incident, both physically and psychologically. This shocking incident caused considerable shock and concern among the community, and I am glad to see that McDonagh has pleaded guilty to his actions. Our detectives and forensics officers worked tirelessly to gather vital evidence so that McDonagh could be charged and remanded within 24 hours of the incident, ensuring he was taken off the streets and justice achieved for the victim. I’d like to thank them, our partners at Sussex Police, the local authority and the Crown Prosecution Service for their incredible hard work and support during our investigation."

British Transport Police has urged anyone who is a victim of, or witness to, violence on the railway network to report it by texting 61016. In an emergency, passengers should always call 999.

Image: British Transport Police