A COUPLE were attacked with an iron bar and robbed after criticising a passing motorist for not signalling, a court was told.

Bella Stevens and her boyfriend Scott Whitehead were walking home in the early hours of Valentine’s Day last year when they were almost hit by a white Rover as it turned into Chestnut Street in the Arboretum, Worcester.

She commented that “an indication would be nice” before the car stopped and three armed men got out, Worcester Crown Court was told.

Mr Whitehead was battered unconscious and suffered head and lip injuries in the 3am attack.

Miss Stevens, aged 21, told police she recognised one attacker as Ewad Hussain, the son of Worcester city councillor and former mayor Allah Ditta.

She claimed he had tried to chat her up and get her phone number five years ago at a mayoral function at the Guildhall.

She also knew him from his job in Monty’s takeaway restaurant in Wyld’s Lane.

Miss Stevens alleged that Hussain robbed her of £30 or £40 cash, punched her on the chin and threatened her with the bar. Both she and Mr Whitehead picked out Huss-ain at a police video identification procedure, said Alex Warren, prosecuting.

He accused Hussain of trying to “frustrate” the police inquiry by having his hair cut after his arrest – against the specific advice of an inspector.

Hussain, aged 21, of Vesta Tilley Court, Worcester, denies robbing Miss Stevens and wounding Mr Whitehead with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm, claiming he was in bed by 2am on the morning of the attack.

He said he’d never met Miss Stevens at Monty’s or the Guildhall. “I would have been with my father. He wouldn’t have appreciated me talking to an English girl. He would have gone schizo,” he said.

Hussain admitted having two previous convictions for threatening behaviour and a police caution for assault by beating.

Abigail Nixon, defending, said police had failed to investigate several other men named by Hussain as possibly involved in the attack. He had often been confused with another man when a student at Worcester College of Technology, she said.

The trial continues.