A 15-year-old boy has admitted punching a Singaporean law student in Oxford Street and saying: “I don’t want your coronavirus in my country.”
Jonathan Mok, 23, was left with a bloodied nose and swelling and bruising to his face and eye following the “vicious and completely unprovoked” attack earlier this year.
The teenager, who is from Camden and cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm at Highbury Magistrates’ Court on Monday, after being charged last month.
He will be sentenced at the same court on September 7.
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Mr Mok, a student at University College London, was attacked as he walked with a friend near Tottenham Court Road station at about 9pm on February 24.
He later posted selfies showing his injuries on Facebook, and told the BBC that he felt the coronavirus pandemic had been used by some as an excuse to "further hatred for people different from them".
"I just think it's a pity to have such experiences taint the image of this beautiful city [that has] so many nice people," he said.
Following Monday’s hearing, Daniel Kavanagh, Senior Crown Prosecutor from the CPS, said: “This was a vicious and completely unprovoked attack on a young man who was simply making his way home with a friend after dinner in central London.
“He was clearly targeted in this hate crime because of his ethnic appearance.
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“Hate crime has a corrosive effect on our society and nobody should be subjected to such vile behaviour.
“The prosecution case included CCTV footage of the incident, leaving the defendant little choice but to plead guilty and own up to his actions.
“I hope this conviction provides the victim with some comfort and shows that the CPS will take action to prosecute those who commit hate crimes.”