Mother of victim left in coma speaks out

The mother of a gifted footballer left with severe brain damage after being attacked by a thug said today that young offenders should be made to visit victims in hospital.

Sam Kanu, 24, who played for Arsenal and England youth teams, was injured when he challenged a shoplifter.

He was punched in the face and collapsed into a coma, not regaining consciousness for two months. Now he is unable to walk or talk and needs 24-hour care at the Royal Hospital in Putney.

Speaking on the eve of the anniversary of the attack, Sam's mother Linda Bangura welcomed Home Office proposals for young people caught carrying knives to be sent into hospitals, where they would face victims of violent crime.

Mrs Bangura, 39, from Bermondsey, said the move could be an effective shock tactic for offenders.

"I believe it would help them by seeing the impact it has on families," she said. "Seeing someone like my son may stop them from being violent or using a knife.

"They will see the emotional impact it has had on the family and what they are going through.

"When they see him, they will realise that attacking or stabbing someone will ruin the life of the victim and their family. It has destroyed our family."

Mrs Bangura brought Sam and his sister Haja, eight, to London from Sierra Leone in the hope of giving them better opportunities. Sam was talent spotted by Arsenal at the age of 10, but his career as a left midfielder was cut short by a serious knee injury and he was released by the club in 2004.

He was working at City Hall as an entertainments officer when the attack happened at his local Costcutter store in Tooley Street after he challenged 28-year-old Rocky Djelal, who was stealing bottles of wine. At Inner London crown court in February, Djelal, from Bermondsey, was convicted of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and was jailed for three years and four months.

Sam had close links with Arsenal and had set up a youth football club called Shining Stars, which helped more than 70 young people from Southwark. He has been visited in hospital by former clubmates, including Cesc Fabregas, Philippe Senderos and Ashley Cole, now with Chelsea.

Mrs Bangura, a social worker, said: "Everyday I see Sam I think of the person he was and it is just unbelievable. He was so active and such an athletic, strong boy."

She has launched the Sam Kanu Foundation to help families in a similar position. "Sam had worked hard and was going to achieve so much more and somebody ruined that," Mrs Bangura said. "We don't sleep much and hardly have time to eat. Every day is about caring for Sam and I am praying for him to get better."