Magistrates are still deliberating this afternoon over the fate of a man charged with assaulting a 16-year-old girl in Plaistow.

Michael Ayoade, 34, of Greengate Street, Plaistow, appeared at Thames Magistrates Court this morning accused of assault occasioning actual bodily harm following a brutal attack on the teenager around midday on Tues Nov 13.

He is also charged with possession of a Class B drug after a small bag of cannabis was allegedly found.

CCTV footage of the incident - seen all over the globe - shows the victim, also from Plaistow, was approached from behind and struck over the head on High Street, unconscious before she hit the ground.

The student has said she only remembers waking up in the ambulance with facial injuries and chipped teeth.

The court are due to reconvene later today to decide how to progress his case.