A 22-YEAR-OLD man who repeatedly punched an off-duty police officer on the Tube has been sentenced to 18 weeks in jail.

Emeka Okeke, of Whitefoot Lane, Downham, was sentenced at City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to common assault.

It follows an investigation by British Transport Police into an incident in May when Okeke repeatedly hit a Met Police officer after barging into him as he tried to get off a Piccadilly line train at Russell Square station.

The victim was taken to hospital for treatment to cuts and bruising on his head and arm.

Okeke left the station but was identified after police showed CCTV stills of the suspect to workers on a nearby building site.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Dan Holmes said: “Acts of violence like this on the Tube are extremely rare but when they do happen we do everything possible to bring the offender to justice.

“There is no justification at all for this violent behaviour and I welcome the jail term handed to Okeke.”

Chief operating officer of London Underground Howard Collins said: “We will not tolerate any violence on our network and Okeke’s behaviour towards the off-duty officer was unacceptable.

“Millions of passengers travel our Tube network every day and whilst crime remains low, we want them to feel safe and will always make sure that criminals are brought to justice."

There are approximately 12,000 CCTV cameras on the Tube network which will rise to more than 14,000 over the next few years.