A Sudanese refugee has been charged, after threatening a Christian street preacher with a knife at Speaker’s Corner, Hyde Park.
Ahmed Mohammed was known to preacher Daniel Ayettey from a “minor incident” between the two men, supposedly to do with a religious disagreement.
Ayettey was addressing people gathered at Speaker’s Corner, when Mohammed asked him: “What would you like to happen in my life?”
“I would like you to have the Lord in your life,” Ayettey responded.
Witnesses said this prompted anger in Mohammed, who attempted to drag the Christian from his soapbox.
Mohammed then ran away, but returned with a knife and said: “I am going to stab you.”
The 34-year-old had been involved in theft incidents near Marble Arch, including stealing food and alcohol from shops.
Southwark Crown Court heard that some onlookers attempted to dissuade Ayettey from calling the police, as they knew Mohammed.
However, he was arrested and found guilty of carrying a knife, which carries a sentence of up to four years in prison.
Mohammed currently has 29 convictions for over 67 offences, some relating to drugs and alcohol usage.
Judge Martin Griffith said: “Seven years of offending - it is a lot of time for someone to make their mind up.”
Sentencing has been postponed until the 12th December, so that Mohammed can be assessed for an alcohol treatment programme.