Drunken racists attacked Italian after mistaking him for a Muslim
AN ITALIAN barman was beaten up by three racist thugs who told him “go back to your own country” because they wrongly believed he was a Muslim, a court heard.
Dario Antonioni, who is in his twenties, was chased and attacked by the drunken men in Surrey Quays on June 10 last year. He has dark hair and had a beard when he was targeted by the men, who shouted “f***ing Muslim”.
Butcher Joshua O’Leary, 23, and warehouse worker Alfred Young, 19, were convicted of the attack at Inner London crown court but were spared jail by Judge Benedict Kelleher yesterday.
“Due to your prejudice and ignorance and because he had a small beard you all thought he was a Muslim and shouted abuse at him,” the judge said. “He put up a spirited defence to your completely unjustified attack late at night while under the influence of alcohol.”
Mr Antonioni told the court that as he left Canada Water Tube, three men came up to him. “They were shouting at me for no reason, things like: ‘F***ing Muslim’. ‘Muslim go home’ — all three of them,” he said. “A bottle was thrown at me and I started walking quickly and then started to run. I was frightened.
“The three of them surrounded me. I fell to the ground and I was struck everywhere by all three of them. I said: ‘What are you doing? Why are you doing this?’ and I was speaking to them in Italian, but they increased the shouting.
“They wanted to beat me up …All three of them hit me, kicks and punches, and when I was on the floor there were more kicks and punches.” Mr Antonioni took refuge in a kebab shop, but the men continued to shout abuse. He suffered bruised elbows and knees and grazes on his face. Judge Kelleher said the third man, who was not caught, appeared to be the ringleader in the incident, which was caught on camera by a resident.
The judge told O’Leary, who claimed he had not been an attacker: “I am giving you the chance to show you can put this type of behaviour behind you.”
O’Leary, of Rotherhithe, denied but was found guilty by a jury of religiously aggravated assault. He was sentenced to a 12-month community order, including 180 hours of community service, 20 days of rehabilitation and a night-time curfew for 12 weeks. Young, of Welwyn Garden City, admitted the same charge and was given a 12-month community order with 80 hours of service, and a six-week night-time curfew. Both must pay £125 compensation to the victim.