Gang jailed for attacking student with bottle in Whitechapel

From the East London Advertiser

Five men who attacked an American student with a bottle in Commercial Road, leaving him scarred for life, were sentenced yesterday. They were caught on CCTV attacking Francesco Hounye in shortly after midnight on June 17, 2013.

The 22-year-old student had arrived from Florida just three days earlier and had been visiting Brick Lane with a friend. As the pair walked back to the friend’s home in Shadwell, they passed a group of men. The group followed them, surrounding them at the junction of New Road and Commercial Road.

Mr Hounye was grabbed by one of the gang, Shelim Uddin, and when he pushed him away Shahdat Hussain grabbed him from behind. After Mr Hounye was punched in the face and hand, Uddin picked up a bottle and smashed it against his face. The group chased after him, pinning him to building site hoardings and punching and kicking him.

Shelim Uddin, 21, of Romford Street, Whitechapel, was jailed for six years for grievous bodily harm with intent.

Samad Uddin, 25, of Columbia Road, Bethnal Green, was jailed for five and a half years for the same offence.

Kamrul Hussain, 23, of Stepney Way, Stepney and Masoom Rahman, 22, of Greatorex Street, Whitechapel, both admitted grievous bodily harm.

Hussain was jailed for two years and three months while Rahman received an 18 month sentence, suspended for two years, and 200 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £600 in compensation.

Shahdat Hussain, of Malmesbury Terrace, Canning Town, was sentenced to 22 months in a young offenders’ institute.

I was sure that I reported this attack on this site in 2013, but I can’t find it. However at the time the Daily Mail reported thus:

CCTV images show Mr Hounye and his 23-year-old pal being followed by a number of Asian men as they made their way back to the friend’s home in Shadwell, before a confrontation is seen to begin. 

Police do not know what sparked an argument, but the exchange quickly became heated and the suspects threatening and aggressive. One of the men grabbed the bottle that Mr Hounye was drinking from and smashed it against his face.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Ben Mott, said: ‘We believe the suspects picked a fight with the victim as he was obviously not from the local area and they took exception to the fact that he was a bit different.

‘The victim has an Italian accent, his own style of dress and mannerisms and, when challenged by the Asian males, answered them back. They retaliated by grabbing the bottle and launching a vicious attack that has left him scarred for life…’

This was at the time of the Muslim patrols in Whitechapel and Lea Bridge Road Leyton when anybody drinking or not dressed according to their Islamic code was challenged and threatened. This was believed to be a similar attack. As the police officer said, he was not only a bit different, he answered back!