Hospital worker, 44, who went berserk and tried to murder two colleagues with a pickaxe and scalpel in terrifying attack after telling victim 'today is your lucky day' is jailed for 30 years

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A hospital worker, who went berserk and tried to murder two colleagues with a pickaxe and a scalpel has been jailed for 30 years.

Matteo Bottarelli, 44, beat Trevor McGuire over the head with a mattock and stabbed Gideon Tesfay in the neck with a scalpel in a terrifying attack which began in the canteen of the Central Middlesex Hospital and spilled out into the car park.

Mr McGuire was left with a lifelong brain injury as a result of Bottarelli's rampage, while Mr Tesfay suffered serious head and neck injuries. 

The hospital maintenance worker also tried to injure his line manager Mark Quigley, who escaped unscathed.

Now Bottarelli, who was arrested by armed police outside the hospital with non-life threatening injuries thought to have been self-inflicted, has been sentenced to thirty years in prison after a jury at Wood Green Crown Court convicted him of attempting to murder the men, both in their 40s. 

Matteo Bottarelli (pictured), a hospital worker who went berserk and tried to murder two colleagues with a pickaxe and a scalpel has been jailed for 30 years

Armed police pictured following the stabbing at Central Middlesex Hospital. Bottarelli, 44, beat Trevor McGuire over the head with a mattock and stabbed Gideon Tesfay in the neck with a scalpel in a terrifying attack

Mr McGuire was left with lifelong brain injury as a result of Bottarelli's rampage, while Mr Tesfay suffered serious head and neck injuries

He was also convicted of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to Mr Quiqley. 

The 44-year-old, who admitted to taking huge quantities of heroin and cocaine before the rampage, was heard shouting 'this is your lucky day' ahead of the attack.

When Bottarelli entered the canteen with the axe at lunchtime on June 21 2023, Mr Tesfay said: 'This is a place to eat, why bring that in here?' 

This caused the maintenance worker to put the object down but as Mr Tesfay went to put his food in the microwave, Bottarelli slashed the victim's neck with his scalpel. 

During the trial jurors saw dramatic CCTV footage of Bottarelli charging at Mr Quigley with the mattock raised above his head before he attacked Mr Tesfay and Mr McGuire.

He then chased Mr Tesfay around the hospital car park but he managed to evade Bottarelli by hiding behind cars.

Officers investigating the incident later found a number of knives and scalpels at his home in nearby Central Way, Park Royal.

Sentencing Bottarelli, Judge Joanna Greenberg KC said: 'There were motiveless attacks, there is no evidence of any past animosity.

Sentencing Bottarelli, Judge Joanna Greenberg KC said: 'Mr McGuire said he wanted to die after this incident, he believed his career had ended' (pictured: Mr McGuire, with wife Dawn)

The 44-year-old (pictured in a court sketch last June), who admitted to taking huge quantities of heroin and cocaine before the rampage, was heard shouting 'this is your lucky day' ahead of the attack

'You were observed to be sweating profusely. You went to your home nearby and returned to the hospital having by this point taken a very large quantity of class A drugs from a purchase you had made that morning.

'You struck Mr McGuire at least twice to his head with the mattock.

'Mr McGuire was the most seriously injured - he was taken to St Mary's hospital. On examination he had three wounds to his head.

'When the police officers spoke to Mr McGuire he was very upset and kept asking you why you had done this to him.

'Mr McGuire said he wanted to die after this incident, he believed his career had ended.

'He was in a high amount of pain and repeatedly mentioned the pain being the worst pain he had ever experienced.

'He has been left struggling to walk, talk and has numbness down one side of his body. He now has a severely diminished career and is unable to ride his motorcycle.

'His family relationships have altered very significantly.

'Mr Tesfay suffered from depression, he was unable to sleep.

'It caused him to be unable to return to work at Central Middlesex Hospital, where he had worked for 17-18 years.

'It is likely you were suffering from an underlying psychotic illness for several years.

Detective Constable Jacob Eyres said: 'We have worked hard to build a case against Bottarelli who posed a clear threat to his work colleagues and to public safety.

The rampage began in Central Middlesex Hospital canteen and spilled into car park (pictured: police outside the hospital)

The judge added: 'Mr Tesfay suffered from depression, he was unable to sleep. It caused him to be unable to return to work at Central Middlesex Hospital, where he had worked for 17-18 years'

'Throughout our enquiries we gathered a substantial amount of evidence including detailed accounts from witnesses and victims whose contribution to the investigation was crucial.

'This was an unprovoked attack on people working to help others and it is right that Bottarelli will now face the consequences of his actions.

'I hope that his conviction brings the victims a measure a comfort in knowing that justice has been served. My thoughts are with them.'