A man who was killed while riding a mobility scooter was repeatedly stabbed in the neck, chest and abdomen, a court has heard.

Thomas O’Halloran, 87, died in Greenford, west London, on Tuesday 16 August after what prosecutors described as a “vicious attack”.

Lee Byer, 44, is charged with Mr O’Halloran’s murder in a case set to go to trial in May.

During a pre-trial hearing this morning, the Old Bailey heard that Mr O’Halloran told a passerby he had been stabbed, though wounds to his body were clearly visible.

Police received a 999 call from a member of the public who found the victim travelling in his scooter from a passageway that runs between Runneymede Gardens and Welland Gardens.

The police arrived within minutes to find Mr O’Halloran had collapsed and was being helped by members of the public.

Police and medics took over first aid but he was pronounced dead at the scene at 4.54pm.

A post-mortem examination found the grandfather, who was known “throughout the local community”, had sustained multiple stab wounds to the neck, chest and abdomen.

Byer, of no fixed address, was charged on 19 August with Mr O’Halloran’s murder and possessing a large knife.