The Tube worker who sparked outrage after his verbal abuse of a passenger was posted on the internet could be suspended on full pay until Christmas, it emerged today.

Union sources said Underground employees could spend up to eight weeks under investigation while still being entitled to their full salary.

Ian Morbin, 25, who earns at least £24,000 a year, was caught on camera last week shouting at an elderly man whose arm had become trapped in a Tube train door at Holborn station.

This caused more commuters to come forward with complaints and call for the customer services assistant to be sacked. Boris Johnson has also faced demands for further action.

A spokesman for the TSSA union, which represents station staff, told the Standard that a Transport for London investigation could take up to four weeks - and any subsequent appeal could take the same length of time.

Today, passengers told the Standard how they avoided the station after encountering Mr Morbin - despite his claim on Facebook to be an "easygoing Jedi". BBC employee Andrea Lee said Mr Morbin screamed at her: "You're my f***ing problem."

Ms Lee, 26, had complained last month about his treatment of another elderly passenger but said Mr Morbin turned on her angrily and "started screaming and chased me down the platform".

Security officer Liam Felton, 29, said he was told to "walk under a bus" by Mr Morbin earlier this month. Mr Felton, from Stoke Newington, added: "I went to tell him the barrier wasn't working and he just went off on one at me."

Mr Morbin, from Romford, was caught on camera calling an elderly male passenger a "jumped up little git" and threatened to "sling him under a train".

Val Shawcross, a Labour member of the London Assembly, has written to the Mayor demanding a review of TfL's complaints procedure. She asked today why Mr Morbin's behaviour "wasn't picked up and dealt with earlier".

A spokesman for Boris Johnson said: "The Mayor was appalled by the video footage. The man is already under investigation and we'll await the outcome."

TfL said: "We have launched a thorough investigation and all aspects of the incident will be considered."

ARE YOU THE MAN WHO WAS ABUSED BY THE TUBE WORKER? IF SO PLEASE CALL 0207 938 7161

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