A VILE thug who repeatedly punched a woman in the head outside a nightclub has been locked up for three years.
Andrew Akingbaje, 24, who was an up-and-coming footballer was caught on camera launching the savage attack on Krystal Mission in the early hours of January 1 this year.
He dragged her along the pavement by her hair in front of horrified New Year revellers.
But she posted shocking footage of the attack, which went viral online, to trace the thug.
Dad-of-one Akingbaje admitted one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm when he appeared in the dock at Inner London Crown Court yesterday.
Patricia May, prosecuting, said: “The video of the attack on the main victim shows very, very clearly that she is being held by the street warden who is holding her hand.
From the time I have spent with her she is extremely traumatised
Patricia May, prosecuting
“Then this defendant comes over to her. He came at her punching her on several occasions, this causing her injuries to her face.
“The scraping along the pavement and the road caused injuries to her legs and arms.There was a lot of bruising to her legs.
“From the time I have spent with her she is extremely traumatised.”
Akingbaje, from Brixton, south London, was said to have been a ‘promising footballer’ and signed for League One club Accrington Stanley when he was 21.
He had previously played for non-league Peckham Town and received interest from Charlton Athletic.
Miss Mission, 21, took to Instagram Live after the assault to reveal a swollen face, telling followers: “I just feel pain everywhere.
“To be honest I’m just putting everything together at the moment, I was all a bit of blur.
“I don’t think I’m going to go out anymore. I just keep thinking about it. It’s probably going to take a while for me to get over this.”
The court heard Akingbaje has a previous conviction for GBH against an ex-girlfriend in 2017.
Bethany Condron, defending, said a video showed Akingbaje was also attacked in the incident.
Ms Condron said: “It shows the court where there’s 10 to 15 people on top of him punching him. He comes very close to being driven over by a car.
“There was a mistaken belief Miss Mission was involved with the people earlier.”
Two other counts of assault by beating against two of Miss Mission’s friends were ordered to lie on file.
Judge Mark Bishop warned Akingbaje: “I want to make absolutely clear to you you are facing a custodial sentence.”
Akingbaje was bailed until his sentencing hearing at Inner London Crown Court next month.
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