Reker Ahmed: Asylum seeker brutally assaulted after being chased by 'pack' of youths down Croydon street, court hears

Left critically injured: Asylum seeker Reker Ahmed
Tom Powell9 October 2017
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A Kurdish asylum seeker was kicked and stamped on in the street as he ran for his life from a "pack" of young people in a late-night attack, a court has heard.

Five men and one woman have gone on trial following what was described as a "brutal" assault on Reker Ahmed in Croydon, south London earlier this year.

The 17-year-old suffered a fractured spine, a bleed on the brain and facial fractures as well as cuts and bruises during what prosecutor Jonathan Polnay called a "disgraceful episode of violence and thuggery".

George Walder, 23, Lliam Neylon, 19, Daryl Davis, 21, and his sister Danyelle Davis, 24, and 23-year-old Kyran Evans are each charged with two counts of violent disorder.

Kurt Killick, 18, faces a third charge of grievous bodily harm with intent, accused of stamping on Mr Ahmed, who was subjected to two beatings over the course of 16 minutes shortly before midnight on March 31.

Mr Polnay told the jury it is a "fair inference to draw that this was alcohol-fuelled violence that took place in the streets of Croydon" - adding that it was an "unjustified and unjustifiable assault".

Police comb the scene after the alleged attack in Croydon
London Live

As the jury at Croydon Crown Court was shown CCTV footage of people chasing after the teenager, Mr Polnay told the court: "He (Mr Ahmed) is running for his life. The pack all follow."

Mr Polnay told the jury the victim, who had been socialising with two friends that Friday night, had a short conversation with a small group including Killick outside The Goat Pub.

After walking off towards the bus stop, the victim and his friends were apparently approached by Killick and Walder, who is said to have punched someone, with a fight breaking out in Bridle Road and Mr Ahmed kicked as he lay on the ground.

Mr Polnay told the jury: "There's a lot going on. There are people running amok. There are people throwing punches."

Minutes later the defendants are seen suddenly sprinting after Mr Ahmed, chasing him down Shrublands Avenue where he is again assaulted.

A local resident saw Mr Ahmed being stamped on, the court heard, in an assault the prosecution alleges at one point involved eight people attacking the lone victim.

His two friends hid in a front garden, from where they called 999.

The victim will not be giving evidence during the trial, said Mr Polnay, telling the jury Mr Ahmed does not remember what happened.

Mr Polnay added: "The prosecution say that each of these defendants was in that chasing pack, was involved in the violent disorder, at the very least by chasing him down the road."

Walder, of Myrtle Road, Neylon, of Ferris Avenue, the Davis siblings, both of Laurel Crescent, Killick, of Courtwood Lane and Evans, of Shrublands Avenue, deny the charges.

The trial, which is expected to last six weeks, was adjourned until Tuesday.

Reporting by Press Association

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