Man Convicted for Racially Aggravated Assault on Jewish Barrister
Tony Steer has been found guilty of a racially aggravated assault after asking a barrister "Are you Jewish?" before punching him in the jaw. The incident occurred on the evening of December 13 last year outside Finchley Cricket Club in North London.
Details of the Assault
Nathaniel Bor, the victim, testified at Willesden Magistrates' Court that he and a friend were waiting for an Uber after a birthday party when they noticed Steer standing across the road. According to Mr Bor, Steer had a "big smile on his face" and was giving them the middle finger.
Steer then approached and asked if the two men were together, insinuating a romantic or sexual relationship. Mr Bor responded by chuckling and told Steer to cross back over the road to catch his bus.
Instead, Steer turned to Mr Bor and asked, "Are you Jewish?" Mr Bor, taken aback, replied, "What on earth has that got to do with anything?" with a slight chuckle. Steer repeated the question, and after receiving the same response, he suddenly pulled back his fist and punched Mr Bor very hard in the jaw.
Victim's Account and Injuries
Mr Bor stated that he had never been asked if he was Jewish before, and he is indeed Jewish, which added to his surprise. After the punch, Steer walked down the road and jumped over a fence to escape. Mr Bor immediately called the police.
The barrister reported that his jaw was painful for weeks, his teeth hurt for several days, and he still has a bruise on the inner side of his lip. He also believed Steer was intoxicated and had tried to unzip his trousers or undo his belt before approaching.
Defendant's Version and Court Verdict
In his defense, Steer claimed he had been out drinking with friends and, while waiting for a bus home, saw two people across the road shouting something like "go home." He alleged that a taxi pulled up, and one of the individuals took something from the car, which he thought might be a weapon, prompting him to run away because he felt harassed and traumatized.
However, Recorder Emma Greenwood rejected Steer's account, describing it as lacking detail. She emphasized that the punch followed immediately after the questions about being Jewish and could not reasonably be considered separate or unrelated.
Sentencing and Prosecution Statement
Steer, of Campfield Road in Greenwich, south-east London, was released on conditional bail ahead of his sentencing scheduled for April 16 at the same court.
Louise Ahmad, senior prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, condemned the attack, stating, "Tony Steer launched a cowardly and unprovoked attack on a member of the public based on his perception of the victim's race. Antisemitism has no place in our society. Everyone has the right to go about their daily lives without fear of hate, and I hope this conviction sends a clear message that such hatred will not be tolerated."
The Crown Prosecution Service affirmed its commitment to working closely with the police to ensure that those who commit hate-fuelled offences face robust prosecution and the full force of the law.
