A 16-year-old boy has been sentenced for beating up a Singaporean student in London.
In February 2020, Singaporean student Jonathan Mok walking down London’s busiest shopping street, Oxford Street, when he heard four men shouting “Coronavirus”.
The 23-year-old University College London law student confronted the men who retaliated and began attacking him.
One attacker said to Mok, “I don’t want your coronavirus in my country.” Mok underwent facial surgery due to his injuries.
London Metropolitan Police since arrested the boy for his involvement in the racist attack.
In August, the boy who cannot be legally named, admitted to wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court.
The teenager was then found guilty of racially aggravated grievous bodily harm.
Following a trial at Highbury Corner Youth Court, the attacker was given an 18-month youth rehabilitation order.
Additionally, he has been ordered to wear an electronic tag and must follow an order curfew between 20:00 and 07:00 for 10 weeks. The boy must also pay £600 compensation to Mok.
Chair of the bench Mervyn Mandell warned that had he been an adult he “would have gone to jail for a very long time”.
“This was an unprovoked attack for no reason other than his [Mr Mok’s] appearance,” he said.
A victim impact statement read out on behalf of Mr Mok said the crime had “taken a heavy toll” on him and his family.
My legal education had to be halted for a month due to surgery and follow up medical appointments. I have anxiety and have problems sleeping. I believe the defendant is a threat to Singaporeans and South East Asians. He has shown no remorse.”
The attacker’s defence barrister Gerard Pitt said the teenager handed himself in following a police CCTV appeal.
“He has always maintained he did not say anything about coronavirus and that was vindicated at the trial,” Pitt said.
“When I saw the picture I felt disgusted,” the boy said. “I apologise for my actions.”
In other news, snooker legend Stephen Hendry has come under fire for comparing Chinese players with robots.
