The court heard Paul Ibrahim left the woman briefly unconscious after punching her.

Muswell Hill man punched waitress he believed ‘drugged’ him

by Jamie Rich Tuesday, June 5, 2012
8:56 PM

A Muswell Hill man admitted punching a waitress in a café because he believed she had poisoned him, a court heard.

Paul Ibrahim, 49, of Wood Vale, struck Wioleta Choma on May 12 outside Patisserie Valerie, in Bedford Street, near Covent Garden, knocking her down and leaving her briefly unconscious, Westminster Magistrates’ Court was told.

Laura Herbert, mitigating, said Ibrahim assaulted Ms Choma believing he had been drugged or poisoned by her a few months earlier.

She said: “There had been a previous meeting with the complainant at Patisserie Valerie. My client believes he was in some way drugged or poisoned at that meeting.

“He then was walking past some months later, it should also be noted after a funeral with his mother, and saw the waitress.

“He asked her whether she had put something in the food. He heard her say ‘yes, you poof’ or ‘yes, you queer’ and he then punched her.”

Ibrahim originally pleaded not guilty to the charge of assault by beating. But after district judge John Zani told him that being provoked provided no defence to the charges he faced, Ibrahim changed his plea to guilty.

Judge Zani deferred sentencing for reports until June 28.

He told Ibrahim: “On the face of it, this is an unprovoked assault on a lady, causing her a considerable amount of stress.

“All the court’s powers, even going to prison, will be considered, so treat this seriously.”