Roy Larner was injured as he tackled London Bridge terrorists in 2017

16 July 2019 - A Londoner dubbed 'the Lion of London Bridge' after he took on terrorists shouting 'f*** you, I'm Millwall' has been denied compensation for his injuries.

Roy Larner was in a pub when three jihadis killed eight people in June 2017. He later appeared on TV to tell how he took on one of the attackers.

Many of those injured in the terror attack were entitled to damages from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, which was set up to take care of victims of crime.

But despite damaging his left arm when he was repeatedly stabbed in the attack, Mr Larner, 49, has been denied compensation due to his previous criminal convictions.

A recent inquest into the victims of the attack was shown footage of Mr Larner being savagely stabbed in the stomach.  

He spent 12 days in hospital after the attack and was left with more than 80 stitches to his head, ear, arms and hands.

Describing the attack at the time, he said: 'They had these long knives and started shouting about Allah. Then it was, "Islam, Islam, Islam.'

'Like an idiot I shouted back at them. I took a few steps towards them and said, "f*** you, I'm Millwall'.

'So they started attacking me.'

But he has been denied compensation for his injuries by the authorities.

He fell foul of rules which deny damages to those who have criminal records.

In a separate incident in July 2017, Larner went to MP Neil Coyle's constituency office and told staff that London Mayor Sadiq Khan should not even be in the country. 

He said: 'All Muslims are the same' before going on to call them 'scum' and making a shooting gesture.

He later admitted racially aggravated common assault and religiously aggravated harassment and was given an eight-week suspended sentence. 

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority rules dictate that victims of crime cannot claim money from them if they have serious convictions or have served time in prison.

Author's comment: Given that Mr. Larner had been the victim of what must have been an extremely traumatising experience in June 2017, he might have been forgiven for his comments in his MP's constituency office one month later.

The system is clearly in need of reform if no compensation is available for this extremely brave man, who put his life on the line in order to save others. 

Also, given that convictions for 'religiously aggravated harassment' are being handed out like toffee apples these days for the most minor of offences, what this man deserves - rather than to be punished by the system - is a medal for bravery.