THEGAYUK

Tag: Crime

All the latest breaking news crime in the UK and aboard. Browse THEGAYUK’s complete collection of news, articles and commentary on Crime.

  • Man found guilty of manslaughter outside a gay nightclub in Newcastle

    One punch was all it took to take the life of a 54-year-old GrahamThurston outside a club in Newcastle in August last year.

    One punch was all it took to take the life of a 54-year-old man outside a club in Newcastle in August last year.

    Graham Thurston was knocked to his death after a brawl in Newcastle’s city centre, when Scott Thomson punched him.

    Thomson was found guilty of manslaughter following a trial at the Newcastle Crown Court.

    Victim Graham Thurston was attacked after accusing Thomson of bullying a man. After the first punch, Thurston got up, seemingly unhurt, but it was the second punch that claimed his life after he cracked his head on the ground.

    Thomson claimed he had acted in self-defence.

    Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Paul Waugh said: “Thompson was intoxicated when he attacked Graham with one punch which sadly caused him fatal injuries. This incident is a stark reminder of the dangers of too much alcohol, and the consequences of violence on a night out. We want people on a night out to enjoy themselves, but would like to remind people that drinking alcohol can have devastating consequences on your life and the lives of others.

    “We welcome the decision by the jury today and are grateful to the members of the public who came forward and gave evidence in the trial as they helped secure this conviction. This result highlights the importance of the police and public working together.

    “Our thoughts remain with the family of Graham and we continue to offer them our condolence. I hope they find some comfort in that justice has been done.”

    He is due to be sentenced at the same court on 29 March.

  • Sheffield man charged after train conductor allegedly subjected to homophobic abuse

    A 32-year-old man has been charged after a train worker was allegedly subjected to homophobic abuse.

    British Transport Police have said that a man was charged with a hate crime after a train conductor was allegedly subjected to homophobic abuse on Sunday 4th Feb 2018.

    The man appeared in court on the 5th Feb 2018.

    String of homophobic incidents

    There have been a number of homophobic reports in the last few months

    In early December a man allegedly abused two women, and two teenagers were arrested following an attack where a young man was forced into a headlock and told to apologise for being gay.

    In November, another man was “punched repeatedly” outside Charing Cross station, just a few hundred meters from one of London’s highest-profile gay clubs, heaven.

    In September a woman hurled homophobic abuse at two men on a train between Havant and Pulborough, with one of the victims suffering an injury after the women threw a glass jar at them.

    In September, three teenagers pleaded guilty to attacking two boyfriends on a train in Ealing. They were jailed for their attack.

     

  • Suspected Serial Killer Charged With Murdering 5 Men

    A self-employed landscaper is currently facing five first-degree murder charges, Toronto Police Service (TPS) said. Bruce McArthur, 66, was arrested Jan. 18 on two first-degree murder charges for his alleged involvements in the deaths of Selim Esen, 44, and Andrew Kinsman, 49. (more…)

  • Canada ‘serial killer’ linked to five deaths, targeted gay men

    A landscaper charged in the deaths of two Toronto gay men is a suspected serial killer, police said Monday, as they linked him to three additional victims and scoured sites around Canada’s largest city for more remains. (more…)

  • Man jailed for multiple, non-recent sexual offences on six boys

    A man has been jailed for 16 years for multiple sexual offences against boys in 1970s.

    Retired musician, Neil Duncan, 74 from Southend-On-Sea, was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment on Wednesday. Along with his prison sentence, Duncan will be made to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.

    He previously pleaded guilty, in December 2017 to 39 offences:

    One count of attempted buggery with a victim aged under 16;
    – Seven counts of buggery with a victim aged under 16;
    – One count of incitement to commit buggery;
    – 13 counts of indecency with a child under the age of 14 years;
    – 15 counts of indecent assault on a male under the age of 16 years; and,
    – Two counts of making indecent images.

    Detective Constable Amy Dobner, from the Child Abuse and Sexual Offences (CASO) Command, said, “Duncan is a prolific offender who spent the 1970s abusing young children. I am grateful that they have since come forward so that we could take the necessary action to bring him before the courts.

    “I would like to take this opportunity to praise their bravery and resolve, and hope that today will further help them move on with their lives, knowing that Duncan has been punished for his crimes.”

    Showing boys pornography

    Police were first contacted by one of Duncan’s victims in March 2016. Three other victims subsequently came forward towards the end of 2016 and early 2017. They all told officers that they had been assaulted by Duncan as young boys in the 1970s.

    Duncan would show the boys pornographic material before forcing them to perform sex acts.

    Officers quickly established that he had offended across west London and the Home Counties.

    Duncan was arrested on 4 August 2016. A number of computers were seized and found to contain indecent images.

    Officers also discovered several diaries that were kept by Duncan which corroborated the allegations.

    He was charged in mid-August 2017.

    Detective Chief Inspector John Foulkes of CASO said, “Given the number of victims and offences that Duncan has admitted to, it cannot be ruled out that there are other victims who have yet to contact police.

    “I would urge anyone who has been abused by Neil Duncan to come forward and speak to police where you will be supported by specially trained officers.”

    Anyone with information is asked to contact the Barnet Child Abuse and Sexual Offences team on 020 8733 5139.

  • An LGBT+ person killed every 19 hours in Brazil

    Nearly 450 LGBT+ people were killed in violence in Brazil in 2017.

    New research has suggested that nearly 450 LGBT people were killed at the hands of homophobes and transphobes in Brazil in 2017. Brazil also has the highest number of murders in the world. A record 62,000 murders were recorded in 2016.

    Grupo Gay De Bahia an LGBT+ watchdog, recorded a 30 percent increase from the 327 victims killed during 2016. The new figures equate to nearly one violent death every 19 hours. There were 387 murders and 58 suicides linked to homophobia.

    Last year being gay was ruled a disease in the country, when a court in Brazil’s capital, Brasilia, ruled that homosexuality was a disease and that so-called “gay cure” therapy was legal.

    Despite the country hosting one of the world’ biggest LGBT+ prides, Brazil has the highest number of violent deaths linked to homophobia.

    This is despite same-sex marriage being legal in the country and Rio De Janeiro hosting one of the world’s largest LGBT+ pride events. The country also has discrimination protections for its LGBT+ community enshrined in law.

    Luiz Mott, president of Grupo Gay de Bahia told The Guardian that ultra-conservative politicians could have contributed towards the rise in homophobia in the country. He said, “It’s a discourse that destroys solidarity and equates LGBT people to animals,”

  • Kevin Spacey investigated over third London assault: report

    British police said Thursday they are investigating a man over a third sexual assault, with the Press Association news agency reporting that US actor Kevin Stacey is the suspected assailant …

  • Transgender rights advocate killed in US

    A transgender woman was found stabbed and beaten to death in her Massachusetts home on Friday evening. Her husband has been charged with her murder. Christa Leigh Steele-Knudslien becomes the first known transgender person to be killed in 2018, according to GLAAD, an LGBT-rights organization. (more…)

  • Homophobic abuse on the UK’s train system continues with another incident

    Police are appealing for information after a passenger was homophobically abused by a fellow passenger.

    A passenger on a train travelling between London and Birmingham on the 23rd December was homophobically abused while waiting to use the onboard toilet, British Transport Police say.

    The passenger who is 23, was waiting to use the toilet when a fellow passenger allegedly started to make homophobic comments.

    Onboard CCTV shows the man later putting another passenger, a teenage boy in a headlock.

    The individual that police would like to speak to alighted the train in Wolverhampton. If you know the man picture BTP would like to hear from you.

    They told us, “Hate crime of any description will not be tolerated on the rail network”.

    Do you recognise the man in this image? Officers would like to speak to him as they believe he may have information which could help the investigation.

    String of homophobic incidents

    This incident is just the latest in a string of homophobic attacks that have taken place on the UK’s train system. In early December a man allegedly abused two women, and two teenagers were arrested following an attack where a young man was forced into a headlock and told to apologise for being gay.

    In November, another man was “punched repeatedly” outside Charing Cross station, just a few hundred meters from one of London’s highest-profile gay clubs, heaven.

    In September a woman hurled homophobic abuse at two men on a train between Havant and Pulborough, with one of the victims suffering an injury after the women threw a glass jar at them.

    In September, three teenagers pleaded guilty to attacking two boyfriends on a train in Ealing. They were jailed for their attack.

    Anyone with information is asked to contact BTP by calling 0800 40 50 40 or texting 61016, with reference 495 of 23 December.

  • Two men wanted after a “vicious” homophobic assault outside London nightclub

    Detectives in London are on the hunt after a victim was left with a fractured cheekbone in an attack described as vicious by two men.

    Police are calling on witnesses after a man, who was attending a themed night in a Tower Hamlets’ nightclub, was allegedly attacked by two men. The victim, Gordon Maxwell says he believes he was targetted because of his sexuality and is now afraid to leave his home.

    At the time the victim was wearing a white dress, ‘Doctor Martin’ boots and a brown jacket. He is around 6ft tall, of a slim build, with a goatee beard.

    Homophobia

    A man (Suspect One) was standing at some nearby barriers outside the club and made a homophobic comment towards Mr Maxwell.

    He is described as a white man, of medium build. He was wearing a blue coat with the hood up and a white peak coming out of the hood.

    The second attacker is described as aged between 19 and 28 years old, of an Asian or black appearance. He was wearing a blue puffa-style jacket with the hood up and a silver/white emblem on the left upper arm, dark tracksuit trousers with white lettering on the left leg and dark trainers with thick white soles.

    Following the attack, Mr Maxwell went back to the club and sought medical assistance from door staff.

    He later attended hospital where it was confirmed that he had a fractured cheekbone that would require reconstructive surgery.

    Shattered Confidence

    Mr Maxwell, from Greenwich, said, “I fully believe I was targeted that evening because of my sexuality.

    “I did not see the man that punched me; he ran at me from out of the blue, hit me and ran off.

    “This incident has had a massive affect on all aspects of my life. I am afraid to leave the house and to be at home alone. It has totally shattered my confidence.

    “I cannot feel the right side of my face including my right side of my nose. The surgeons say I may have permanent nerve damage. My mouth and right eye does not open fully and I have lost my sense of smell through one nostril.

    “I would like to urge anyone who saw the attack or thinks they know the people involved to come forward as I fully believe they may strike again – they must be stopped and brought to justice.”

    Caught on CCTV

    Detectives from Tower Hamlet have today released CCTV footage of the incident and a still image of the man they would like to speak to in connection with the incident.

    Detective Constable Alice Tiritas, from Tower Hamlets CID, said, “This was a vicious attack that took place very quickly outside a nightclub and has had very severe effects on the victim, both physically and mentally.

    “We take hate crime like this extremely seriously, and will do out utmost to bring perpetrators of this type of unacceptable attack, to justice. If there is anyone out there who saw these two men or heard them abused Gordon, please contact us as a matter of urgency.”

    Anyone with any information is asked to contact the investigation team on 020 7275 4601 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. No arrests have been made and enquiries continue.

     

  • Guards Ignored Threats Against Gay Inmate Who Was Beaten, Raped, Lawsuit Says

    An gay inmate in Colorado has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Bureau of Prisons, alleging that he was beaten and repeatedly raped by another inmate who had openly threatened him. The lawsuit claims that prison guards at a federal facility in Florence, Colorado, knowingly put him in a position of danger. (more…)