Entertainment
GMB star Noel Phillips’ attacker who racially abused and spat on him wants to meet: ‘I’m grappling with that decision’-Ruth Lawes-Entertainment – Metro
‘I’m just really keen to understand why he did what he did,’ he said.
The horrifying incident happened on a busy London street lat year (Picture: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Good Morning Britain presenter Noel Phillips has said he is uncertain whether to meet with the attacker who racially abused him and spat on his face.
The North America Correspondent has also called for ‘more robust penalties’ after his attacker, who has requested to meet Phillips, was spared jail and handed a rehabilitation order.
Phillips was walking down a busy London street last year, when he was approached by a 17-year-old, who repeatedly called him a racial slur.
The juvenile snatched the journalist’s necklace from around his neck and spat in his face before they pelted off down the road, with Phillips saying the horrific incident had turned his life ‘upside down.’
Speaking further about the crime, Phillips said: ‘I was completely shocked. I didn’t realise what was happening. He was trying to pull my bag and everything around my neck. My T-shirt was ripped.
Noel Phillips shared a picture of the arrest (Picture: Noel_Phillips/Twitter)
‘But he managed to take off with a necklace and then that’s when I realised having frozen for a couple of seconds, and then gave chase,’ he told The Mirror.
Phillips explained he chased after the robber who was arrested by officers and appeared in court on January 11, where he was given a rehabilitation order and placed under a curfew.
The journalist also explained that the criminal has asked to meet with him, but he is in the process of deciding whether to go ahead with it.
Noel Phillips is best known as the North America correspondent for Good Morning Britain (Picture: ITV)
He explained: ‘I’m now grappling with the decision as to whether it’s the right thing to do and I know a lot of people will reflect and say, ‘why would you want to meet someone like that?’
‘But I think for me, I’m just really keen to understand why he did what he did.
‘I’m not attempting to rehabilitate him, I’m not attempting to essentially try and be a mentor or anything like that. I just want him to understand.’
Phillips continued: ‘Perhaps the court didn’t get the point across very well and just passing the under penalties. I just want him to understand the impact of what he did.
‘Maybe it won’t change or maybe we’ll go out there and do it again but I think if I can have just a couple of minutes and get into trying to get the facts into his head of just how disgusting this word is and I think that will be my objective.
‘I wouldn’t hope to take anything much else away from it.’
More: Trending
The broadcaster also blasted the light sentencing, saying the attacker should be ‘held to account and be sent to prison and understand the severity of his crimes.’
‘You can’t go around spitting in people’s faces and calling them racial slurs on the basis that you couldn’t get away with their property that you tried to steal,’ he added.
Metro.co.uk has reached out to the Judiciary for comment.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Entertainment – MetroRead More
