A man who punched a stranger in an antisemitic attack in north London has been convicted for racially aggravated assault.

Tony Steer, 35, was prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service.

Today, following a trial at Willesden Magistrates’ Court, Steer was found guilty of one charge of racially aggravated assault by beating.

Louise Ahmad, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Tony Steer launched a cowardly and unprovoked attack on a member of the public based on his perception of the victim’s race.

“Antisemitism has no place in our society. Everyone has the right to go about their daily lives without fear of hate, and I hope this conviction sends a clear message that such hatred will not be tolerated.

“The Crown Prosecution Service will continue to work closely with the police to ensure that that those who commit hate-fuelled offences are robustly prosecuted and face the full force of the law.”

On 13 December 2025, Steer approached two men stood outside of a cricket club in Finchley and asked if they were together.

He then asked one of the men if they were Jewish, twice, before punching him in the mouth.

The defendant ran away and climbed over a gate into a nearby primary school, where he was subsequently arrested.

The case was passed to the CPS for a charging decision on 14 December 2025 and charges were authorised the next day. 

Despite Steer’s denials, prosecutors were able to use the evidence available to prove that this was an unprovoked attack, motivated by hostility towards their race.