A MAN has denied punching a young mother in the head during an unprovoked attack outside a doctors' surgery.
Cyril Atula, 20, is accused of hitting the woman as she left St James Medical Centre, in St James's Road, with her four-year-old son at 4pm on August 8.
Atula, of Tressillian Crescent, Lewisham, denied assault at Croydon Magistrates' Court on Wednesday (September 10).
He pleaded guilty to damaging a fence in Davidson Road, Croydon, a short time after the alleged attack.
The victim, who did not know her attacker, tried to give the man her mobile phone but he continued to "slap" her.
He then ran away and the woman was able to flag down a passing police car.
The police helicopter was called and the man was found hiding in a nearby garden.
Atula, who spoke only to confirm his name and enter a plea, was granted unconditional bail before returning to the court for a trial on February 11, 2015.
