Muslim convert on trial for beating up teen in London street ‘has 20-year history of racist violence’

A MUSLIM convert who allegedly beat up a schoolboy after spotting him cuddling a girl called a group of non-Muslims 'kuffar scum', a court has heard.

Southwark Crown Court heard today that Michael Coe, 35,  has a history of violence and had been offending almost three years before his first alleged victim was born.

Coe allegedly attacked the then 16-year-old near Upton Park tube station in East Ham and also turned on teacher Boutho Siwela when he intervened.

The court heard he stopped driving and allegedly confronted the 16-year-olds, demanding to know if they were of Islamic faith.

When they lied and told him they were not, he grabbed the boy around the neck before throwing him to the floor, the court heard.

Today the court heard how in 1997, when aged just 16, Coe was convicted of wounding which he told the court was due to him punching a white man who called him a 'black bastard'.

Two years later he was convicted of a common assault and using threatening or abusive words or behaviour.

Since then he has been convicted of robbery, violent disorder at Notting Hill Carnival and other instances of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour, the court heard.

In 2006 he admitted using a firearm to resist arrest and explained today: "I had a gun, that was it."

In May 2013 he was fined for religiously aggravated harassment.

Prosecutor Jonathan Polnay said: "On that occasion an 18-year-old girl was with some friends finishing school when the defendant shouted and beckoned her over.

"When she reached him he became aggressive and said: 'Why are you talking to them, it goes against your religion'."

Coe was said to have shouted "you are going towards their path" at the girl and yelling "they are Kuffar scum".

He is also said to have told her: "At the end of the day it's between you and Allah - you should change."

Despite pleading guilty to the offence Coe told jurors that he did so as it would mean he avoided jail and that he disputed what he said.

Coe's barrister asked him how long he had spent in prison to which he replied: "I have probably done about 12 years."

His prepared statement to police was also read to the court in which he claimed he had assumed the girl was 'pulling away' from her boyfriend.

Five foot two engineering teacher Mr Siwela told jurors how his bike helmet was 'a write off' following the alleged altercation with Coe.

Mr Siwela told the court his attention was diverted from locking up his bike when he 'heard the girl screaming' and he looked up.

He told the court: “I saw the defendant standing over the boy who was lying on the ground.”

Mr Siwela pulled out his phone to take pictures of Coe's number plate as he got back into his car, it was said.

But Coe spotted him, left the car and told Mr Siwela 'give me that phone', the court heard.

The teacher told jurors: “I felt someone pick me up and throw me to the ground.

“I was still wearing my helmet - I had a hard impact on the back just behind my ear.”

He claimed Coe had tried to pull the phone from his hands before it had gone skidding along the floor.

Coe, of Greenwich, South London, denies one count each of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and battery.

The trial continues.

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