A man has been charged with the robbery of a young Malaysian student that shocked the world.

Mobile-phone footage of the callous attack, branded ‘disgusting’ by David Cameron, showed a gang of looters pretending to come to the aid of injured Asyraf Haziq Rossli, 20, who was lying on the ground.

The looters played ‘good Samaritans’ by helping him to his feet – then robbed him.

Reece Donovan, 21, left, of Romford, Essex, appeared yesterday before magistrates accused of robbing Asyraf Haziq Rossli, 20, right, of his Nokia mobile phone and a Sony PSP console

Reece Donovan, 21, of Romford, Essex, appeared yesterday before magistrates in Westminster, Central London, accused of robbing Mr Rossli of his Nokia mobile phone and a Sony PSP console.

Donovan is alleged to have been one of a gang who posed as good Samaritans as the student  lay bleeding on the ground after his jaw had been broken by thugs in an earlier attack. 

But instead of helping him, Donovan is alleged to have sneaked behind him and removed possessions worth £300 from his rucksack while other gang members distracted him.

Shocking: Mobile phone footage shows the Malaysian student beaten senseless by rioters, apparently being helped to his feet and then robbed by the mob pretending to come to his aid

Millions of television and YouTube viewers saw the culprit kiss his fingertips in a sick salute as he swaggered off with the stolen goods.

Last night, Donovan’s neighbours claimed their lives had been blighted by him playing loud music. One neighbour said that his favourite tune was a version of In For The Kill by La Roux, which he played at high volume every night. 

The woman, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, said: ‘He listened to Eminem a lot but his favourite was In For The Kill.’

During yesterday’s hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Donovan sat expressionless, staring at the floor.

Mr Rossli had been cycling along the Northern Relief Road in  Barking, East London, when he was approached by a gang of 60 to 100 youths.

The first-year student was looking forward to breaking fast with his friends when he was brutally attacked by about 20 youths

He was punched with such force that his jaw was broken in several places. As he fell to ground, his bike was stolen. Mr Rossli was approached by another group of youths who helped him to his feet.

As some appeared to assist Mr Rossli, Donovan allegedly rummaged through his rucksack and took the phone and the Sony PSP. The incident was shown on news channels around the world. 

Mr Rossli’s parents begged their son to go back to Malaysia. But Mr Rossli said he will stay in London and complete his studies, despite requiring surgery to have metal plates fitted in his jaw.

Yesterday, the court was told that Donovan, from Cross Road, Romford, had denied the charges. District Judge Nicholas Evans said he was remanding him in custody and ordered him to appear before Wood Green Crown Court in North London on August 19.

l  Joshua Donald, 26, from Ladywood, and a 17-year-old boy from Winson Green were last night charged with the murder of Haroon Jahan, Shazad Ali and Abdul Musavir, who were hit by a car in Birmingham on Wednesday while guarding shops from looters.

And detectives investigating the murder of Trevor Ellis, 26, of Brixton Hill, South London, have made a fifth arrest. Mr Ellis was found in  a car in Croydon on Monday with a gunshot wound to the head.