Dagenham man hurled racist abuse and punched two men on tube
A Dagenham man pleaded guilty to racial assault after beating two men on an underground train, a court heard.
Robert Hodge, 30, shouted racist obscenities at the two black men and punched one of them in the face and head around 10 times on a Hammersmith and City line train between Upton Park and Barking on May 18.
Having been drinking heavily, he approached the men shortly after boarding with a friend.
He swore at the pair and said they should go back to “their own country”.
He then proceeded to throw numerous punches at one of the victims, before assaulting his friend as well. A female passenger was also hurt.
Unemployed Hodge, who lives with his mother in Grosvenor Road, Dagenham, was arrested at Barking Station shortly after.
Appearing at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on Friday, he pleaded guilty to two counts of racially aggravated common assault/beating, one of assault by beating and one of racially aggravated provocation of violence by words.
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The case was adjourned to November 5 for all-options reports.
Hodge, who was crying as he waited in the dock, was released on bail on condition he does not travel on the London underground, tagged and given a 7pm to 7am curfew.
