Michael Jackson Songs Provoke Street Attack

A man flew into a fit of rage and attacked a man who sang Michael Jackson songs to him.

Michael Carter (27) punched the singer to the ground, knocked off his glasses and had to be dragged off him.

Carter, who admitted two counts of assault, said he lashed out because the singing was the same as taunts he had endured at school. Leicester Magistrates' Court heard the incident began when Carter approached one of two women at The Basement nightclub, Wellington Street, Leicester.

James Bide-Thomas, prosecuting, said: "There was an argument about race and he accused one of the women of being racist. Another female friend became involved and they left in the company of a man."

He said Carter, of Wilberforce Road, West End, Leicester, also left the nightclub and continued to try to talk to the woman.

The court heard Carter followed them into Market Street, where he called the woman "evil and twisted" and said the other two people would "come to no good" if they hung around with her.

Mr Bide-Thomas said: "He also said he was a Christian and forgave them.

"The man asked why they should be forgiven and started singing Michael Jackson songs as, he said, Mr Carter reminded him of Michael Jackson.

"This seemed to cause him a great deal of upset, as he ran up behind him, attacked him, giving him a couple of punches to the back of the head, then punched his face, made him fall to the ground.

"He carried on hitting his face and chest, knocked off his glasses - which made him unable to see - and was eventually was dragged off."

Interviewed by police, he said he had not intended to assault the second victim, one of the women, and had only tried to push her away as she attempted to stop the assault.

The male victim suffered a bruised left temple, arms and chest and broken ribs.

Azim Walters, for Carter, said he admitted two counts of assault, on August 4 last year.

He said when Carter had been rebuffed by the woman, he asked her if it was anything to do with the colour of his skin.

When she said it was not, he said: "I didn't think you were racist."

Mr Walters said Carter followed her to apologise and put his hands in a praying position.

He said: "When the man started singing Michael Jackson songs, it triggered off a memory of when he was at boarding school when the other boys used to call him Michael Jackson and sing songs at him.

"Having had a couple of drinks it brought it all back and he reacted the wrong way."