A shop owner who was stabbed as he was opening up at 5am has been walking with a stick since and is terrified to go back to work.

Newham Recorder: He has owned the shop on Plaistow High Street for two and a half yearsHe has owned the shop on Plaistow High Street for two and a half years (Image: Archant)

Muhon Choudhury, 33, passed out after a knife slashed open his leg missing a major blood vessel by two inches on Monday, March 23.

The alleged attacker asked for an Oyster top up at Great News on Plaistow High Street but was told he would have to wait until the machine started running at 5.30am.

He stabbed Muhon and ran off – leaving the shop owner unconscious in a pool of blood.

“When I told him I couldn’t top up his card yet he started knocking things off the shelf, so I came out from behind the counter and that’s when he stabbed me,” said Muhon.

“I’ve got an 8cm cut on my leg. I passed out and the next customer that came in called the police. When I woke up there was blood all over my leg.

“I must have been passed out for about three or four minutes. I couldn’t feel it at the time because of the adrenalin rush but the pain soon sunk in.”

Muhon thinks the attacker is the same person he quarrelled with in his shop the Friday before the incident.

He says at about 5.30pm on March 20 a man wanted to buy Rizler but was unable to provide any ID when asked.

“We had a bit of a quarrel but there were customers in the shop at the time and he just left,” added Muhon.

“I’m sure he gave me an ‘I’ll be back’ look. I’m about 99 per cent sure that was the same guy.

“The ambulance guys said if the stabbing had been two inches to the right it would have hit a major blood vessel and could have been life threatening.

“I’m terrified to go back to work but I’ve got to put bread and butter on the table for my wife and child – my shop is my livelihood.”

Muhon, who has owned the shop for two and a half years, has been walking with a stick since the stabbing.

A spokesman for the MET police confirmed they were called to reports of an assault.

He said there have been no arrests and enquiries continue and they urge anyone with any information to call Newham CID on 0208 217 5039 or the Police non-emergency line on 101.