In an interview after he left the hospital, Stephen said he just wanted to put the incident behind him and continue with his education.

We are going to have to start our lives all over again

Carol Menary

He said: "I do not feel that angry. In a way I am glad it was me because if it was someone else smaller it may have been a lot worse."

The teenager spent nearly six weeks at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in west London where he has been treated for his injuries.

Stephen's mother, Carol Menary, said the future was bleak and many changes would have to be made to accommodate her son's disabilities.

"It's horrific," she said. "I wouldn't want anyone else to go through this.

"It's like you are not existing, we are going to have to start our lives all over again."

She appealed for anyone who may have any information to come forward.

"Whoever did this intended to kill," she said.

Anti-terrorist police are investigating several recent bomb attacks in London including an explosion on 3 March outside BBC Television Centre, just around the corner from the TA base.

Open mind

Officers say they are keeping an "open mind" about who planted the torch bomb which injured Stephen.

The teenager, who comes from the White City estate in west London, had already lost the sight of one eye from a rare form of cancer when he was four years old.

Carol Menary appealed for witnesses to come forward

Police have described the torch as a plastic, US military style item which could have been bought from any high street army supplies or camping store.

Alan Fry, the head of the Anti-Terrorist Branch, said Stephen had picked the torch up and found it would not light up.

He then connected the battery before switching it on again, and the device went off in his face.

Officers are appealing for anyone who was in South Africa Road at 1900BST on 22 February to come forward and ring police on 0800 789321.

Anyone wishing to donate to the ACFA Cadet Stephen Menary Appeal can ring 0870 6086898.