DONOVAN: ‘GOOD SAMARITAN’ RIOTER AT CROWN COURT

A suspected rioter accused of robbing Malaysian student while pretending to help him appeared in crown court today (Fri).

Reece Donovan, 21, was allegedly filmed stealing items from Ashraf Hasiq Rosli’s backpack while the student was still reeling with a broken jaw inflicted by another man.

Footage of hooded youths robbing the bleeding student has become one of the defining images of the unrest, watched almost three million times on YouTube.

The incident was condemned by Prime Minister David Cameron as ‘disgusting,’ showing ‘there are things badly wrong with our society.’

Mr Rosli was punched in the face after refusing to give up his bike to members of a 100-strong crowd of rioters on the Northern Relief Road, Barking, east London, on August 8.

Prosecutors say the man who hit him said ‘give me your bike’ and rode off laughing as the student lay on the floor.

It is alleged a group of men including Donovan then appeared to try and help him up, but instead took a black Nokia mobile phone and a Sony PSP, worth £300, from his backpack.

Donovan appeared in the dock at Wood Green Crown Court today for a short preliminary hearing in his case.

Wearing a black Adidas jacket over a plain blue T-shirt and jeans, he spoke only to confirm his name and did not enter a plea to the charge against him.

Judge Shaun Lyons remanded him in custody ahead of a plea and case management hearing on October 10.

Donovan, of (29) Milton Court, Cross Road, Romford, Essex, is accused of robbery.

Following surgery, Mr Rosli insisted he bore no ill feelings about the incident which took place less than a month after he arrived in the UK.

He said he intended to stay in Britain until he completes his accountancy studies.

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