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.

  • Police are looking for four men in connection to assault on two boyfriends

    Police are looking for four men in connection to assault on two boyfriends

    British Transport Police is searching for four men in connection with an assault in which two boyfriends were attacked.

    British Transport Police would like to make a connection with four men after two boyfriends reported that they were attacked on a train in London. The incident happened at around 1.05am on 15 February on the Reading to London Paddington service, just before the train stopped at Ealing Broadway.

    The victims, a 35-year-old man and a 26-year-old man were travelling home following a night out for Valentine’s Day. They both fell asleep and missed their stop. When they woke up, as the train was approaching Ealing Broadway, they found they were being attacked.

    Police say a group of men were punching and kicking them repeatedly.

    The victims attempted to get away but the offenders followed and continued to attack them during a prolonged assault.

    Investigating officer, PC Peter Taylor, said,

    “This was a very nasty assault committed by a group of men who attacked two other men while they were sleeping on the train. The victims believe the motivation for the attack was that the offenders thought they were gay.

    “Hate crime such as this will absolutely not be tolerated by British Transport Police. I would like to speak to anyone who recognises the men shown in the CCTV images as they may have information which could help with the investigation.

    “If you recognise them or have any other information about the incident, please contact me by calling 0800 40 50 40 or text information to 61016 quoting reference number 30 15/2/17.”

     

     

  • Police target two London gay clubs in drug bust

    Police target two London gay clubs in drug bust

    The Metropolitan Police have arrested three men after drug busts at two London clubs following an “intelligence-led operation”.

    police target gay clubs
    © jvanderwolf Depositphotos.com

    Two gay clubs in London were raided in the early hours of Friday morning by the Metropolitan Police. They arrested three men after a “quantity of suspected Class A drugs” were found on one of the premises.

    Officers entered Vauxhall clubs, Fire and Lightbox and searched customers and members of staff. The venues were also searched.

    According to police reports two 30-year-old men were arrested at Lightbox on suspicion of possession of Class A drugs. One of the men arrested is a staff member of Lightbox. The other man was additionally arrested on suspicion of breaching a court order. A third man, aged 28 was arrested at the same venue on suspicion of handling stolen goods.

    All three were taken into custody at a south London police station where they remain.

    No one was arrested at Fire.

    Chief Inspector Lance Lamnea, of Lambeth borough, said,

    “This operation was based on intelligence that indicated harmful substances were being sold at these nightclubs. We are committed to supporting a vibrant night time economy in the capital, but where we suspect offences are taking place we must take swift action to protect the public.

    “In this case, anti-social behaviour – believed to be generated by those attending the clubs – has been having a detrimental effect on the lives of those living and working in the area.

    “We will be working closely with both the clubs’ management and our partners to ensure the continuing safety of the public and consider whether there will be any impact on licensing issues.”

     

  • Neo Nazi homophobe jailed for terrorism offenses

    Neo Nazi homophobe jailed for terrorism offenses

    A London man, who believed that Adolf Hitler was God, has been jailed for terrorism offences, including promoting ISIS and writing homophobic and racist posts on social media.

    Sean Creigton
    CREDIT: Metropolitan Police

    Enfield resident and neo-Nazi extremist Sean Creighton has been jailed for five years following an investigation by the Metropolitan police in London. The 45-year-old was accused of a terrorism offence as well as writing anti-gay and racist posts on social media that were intended to incite hatred.

    Creighton, a right-wing extremist, pleaded guilty to seven public order offences and one terrorism offence at Kingston Crown Court on Friday, 6 January.

    He was sentenced on Thursday, 23 February to four years’ imprisonment for the public order offences and five years’ imprisonment for the terrorism offence, to run concurrently.

    The police launched an investigation after a post appeared of Mr Creighton holding an assault rifle, standing in front of a Nazi flag, on social media.

    In June 2016 police executed a Section 46 Firearms Act warrant.

    The court heard how police found a “terrorism manual” on his laptop, which contained “viable recipes” for making bombs following a raid on his North London home.

    He was arrested under Section 19 Public Order Act 1986 – distributing written material intending to stir up racial hatred in relation to material on his social media account. When officers further investigated his activity they discovered he was using various methods to spread hate, including offensive stickers on street furniture and what can only be described as prolific activity on social media. They also discovered he had possession of a manual of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.

    On 31 August 2016 he was charged with a terrorism offence and public order offences and appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court the following morning where he was remanded in custody to await trial.

    Commander Dean Haydon, of the Counter Terrorism Command, said,

    “We are as committed to apprehending and prosecuting far right extremists who commit terrorist offences and promote hatred as we are those who support and promote ISIS. Both are intent on destroying communities and pose a real risk if they are allowed to continue.”

  • Police are looking for information in connection to an attack on a gay couple in London

    Police are looking for information in connection to an attack on a gay couple in London

    British Transport Police is appealing for information from the public after two boyfriends were attacked on a London-bound train after a night out in Reading.

    ealing broadway
    CREDIT: Google Maps 2015/2017

    Police are investigating an attack on two men at Ealing Broadway rail station on the morning of 15th February. The two men, a couple, were subjected to an attack, which they said was “for being gay”. The victims say the attack happened on a Great Western Railway train.

    Police confirmed that the pair sustained injuries and were transferred to hospital by ambulance.

    The police were called at 1.04 AM.

    Phillip Poole, 35 and his boyfriend, Zbynek Zatloukal, 26 were apparently brutally beaten on a London-bound train travelling from Reading on Valentine’s day. Mr Poole said that the couple were set upon by a gang of five “for being gay”.

    According to Mr Poole, the thugs boarded the train in Ealing, West London and verbally abused the couple with a homophobic insult before physically attacking them. Mr Poole says that he was sleeping on his partner’s shoulder when a punch to the face woke him.

     Anyone with any information about the incident should contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or 61016 citing reference 30 of 15/02/16.
  • Here’s why you should never charge your phone in public

    Here’s why you should never charge your phone in public

    You could be opening yourself up to a hacking of a lifetime if you charge your phone in a public place.

    CREDIT: FreePhonesART / Pixabay

    Apparently, hackers are now able to compromise plugs in public spaces, meaning if you need to charge your phone from an electrical outline which has been tampered with, your phone and all its personal information could be stolen.

    Speaking to CNN Drew Paik of security firm Authentic8 told CNN.

    “Just by plugging your phone into a [compromised] power strip or charger, your device is now infected, and that compromises all your data”.

    The compromised outlet could leech your personal data via the phone’s USB cable, stealing your contacts, photos and possibly even your banking details, if you have them stored on your phone.

    There’s no way to tell if a plug, in a public space, has been tampered with – so it might just be safer to have a dead battery or buy yourself a battery pack. We loved the Solar powered one from G:roove

  • Gay couple brutally beaten “for being gay”

    Gay couple brutally beaten “for being gay”

    A gay couple were brutally beaten in what’s been described as a homophobic attack on a London-bound train on Valentine’s Day.

     

    Phillip Poole Homophobic attack
    CREDIT: Phillip Poole

    Phillip Poole, 35 and his boyfriend, Zbynek Zatloukal, 26 were apparently brutally beaten on a London-bound train travelling from Reading on Valentine’s day. Mr Poole said that the couple were set upon by a gang of five “for being gay”.

    Mr Poole took to social media to share the shocking images of his and his boyfriend’s injuries. The attack has left him feeling anxious and “jumpy”.

    HAPPY TIMES: The couple before the attack – a happy Valentine’s night out.

    The thugs boarded the train in Ealing, West London and verbally abused the couple with a homophobic insult before physically attacking them. Mr Poole says that he was sleeping on his partner’s shoulder when a punch to the face woke him.

    Speaking to the Standard he said,

    “I can’t really remember much about what happened because I was in such shock when I woke up. I managed to get up and stumble down the carriageway but then they followed me.”

    He said that he was not a violent person and did not know how to defend himself against the abusive onslaught. The 36-year-old said he was still jumpy from the incident.

    The couple, who have been together since November 2015 sustained cuts and bruises and were taken to Ealing Hospital.

    Mr Poole took to his Facebook profile to thank his friends and family for their well wishes

    “Just wanted to thank everyone so much for your comments of support❤means the world to Zbyněk and I. We are home resting now but are very bruised and swollen”.

     

    British Transport Police have said they are aware of the incident and was investigating and Mr Poole confirmed to THEGAYUK that they would be contact them next week.

  • Man fined £150 for two homophobic rants in Shetland pubs

    Man fined £150 for two homophobic rants in Shetland pubs

    A man who admitted shouting homophobic abuse, whilst drunk, has been fined £150.

    Thule bar, Shetlands
    CREDIT: Google Maps 2015

    Twenty-two-year-old Ellis Birnie, of Sandveien, Lerwick, was fined £150 after he pleaded guilty to behaving “in a threatening or abusive manner” in Lerwick, Shetland, in Scotland.

    He made homophobic remarks according to a witness who said that the accused had made “derogatory remarks about the females’ perceived sexuality” last year at the Thule Bar and Captain Flints on 27 September.

    Shetland News reports, Mr Birnie’s defence said that he suffered from epilepsy and diabetes and according did not manage his condition by not managing his diet.

    Sheriff Philip Mann remarked that the behaviour was  “really stupid” and said he hoped it would be a wake-up call for the man.

    “Look after your health and be wise enough to understand you can’t go out and abuse alcohol in this way”.

  • Vandals Write-off Yellow Car ‘For Blighting Picturesque Village’

    Do you remember the banana coloured car that villagers said was ruining one of Britian’s prettiest villages… well it’s been destroyed.

    A pensioner’s bright yellow car blamed for ruining the view in one of Britain’s most picturesque villages has been written off by a vandal who has scratched ‘MOVE’ on it.

    Peter Maddox, 84, parks his banana-coloured Vauxhall Corsa outside his Cotswolds cottage in 14th century Arlington Row, which is owned by the National Trust.

    The chocolate box houses are the oldest inhabited properties in the UK and appear on the inside cover of millions of passports.

    But a row erupted in 2015 when visitors complained that Peter’s “ugly” car was wrecking the classic English scene in Bibury, Glos.

    The retired dentist insisted he had nowhere else to park and continued leaving his car on the road – until it was vandalised last week.

    A yob scratched the word “MOVE FREDDIE” onto the bonnet, scratched every other panel and smashed the driver’s side window and rear windscreen.

    Mechanics have told Peter it will cost £6,000 to repair with a full respray, making the car a probable write-off.

    But defiant Peter has said if that was the case he would buy a replacement – with a lime green colour.

    Daughter-in-law Marie Kraus said,

    “Peter is understandably upset at the loss of his car and his independence, but he is also very fond of his lovely yellow car.

    “Everyone in the village is very supportive. It is horrible to think whoever has done this has come out of their way down this little road to do something like this.

    “It will be a struggle to get another car. It will leave Peter out of pocket.”

    Peter moved to Bibury after his wife died 15 years ago and bought his car three years ago.

    In 2015 he attracted attention when photographers took to Twitter to complain about the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty being ruined by the “ugly, yellow car“.

    Villagers are supporting Peter and calling the crime “disgusting”.

    Some have suggested there is “a financial aspect to the crime” and pointed the finger at a photographer who sells pictures of the village.

    Postmaster Richard William, 48, said,

    “We are all shocked and horrified that such mindless destruction should be visited upon a normally quiet and tranquil village.

    “A lot of people make money out of photographing Arlington Row. I should think there is a financial aspect to the crime.

    “I think it is related to the exposure it received on the internet and the objection to it parking in front of Arlington Row.”

    Ian Howard, owner of The William Morris Tea Room, said the culprits were “nasty vandals” with “small brains”.

    He added: “Peter has not done anyone any harm.”

    Rose Francome-Robinson, 73, also of Arlington Row, described the crime as “disgusting” and “malicious”.

    She said: “I didn’t hear anything, I saw the glass at the parking spot and the car had gone.”

    Police have valued the damage at £6,000 and believe the crime happened between 4pm on Sunday 22 and 7.40am on Monday 23.

    Sergeant Garrett Gloyne said,

    “We have conducted house to house inquiries. We are aware that presence of the vehicle was the bone of contention to some people.

    “Nevertheless the damage caused to vehicle is beyond the pale and we would appeal for anyone who knows anything to contact us.”

  • Two men hospitalised after brutal homophobic attack in Trafford

    Two men hospitalised after brutal homophobic attack in Trafford

    Police in Greater Manchester are asking the general public for help in identifing suspects in connection with what they are calling a homophobic attack on a tram in Trafford.

    Homophobic attack in Trafford

    Officers are trying to identify the man and woman pictured following what they are calling a homophobic attack on a tram in Trafford, just weeks after another homophobic incident in Oldham, just 11 miles away in Oldham.

    Two men in their 40s were travelling on the Metrolink from Media City into the city centre on the night of Sunday 22 January 2017 when they were allegedly attacked on the tram, just before it stopped at Cornbrook station. Police are looking for one man and two women became involved in a verbal altercation with the victims.

    They then launched a violent attack on them, punching and kicking them while subjecting them to homophobic abuse.

    Both victims needed hospital treatment.

    One of the women is described as a white, with long brown hair in a ponytail and was wearing a dark cap. She was also wearing a black hoody with a white square and white lettering on the front of it.

    Detective Constable Claire Phythian, from GMP’s Trafford borough, said,

     

    “This was a disturbing attack on two innocent men as they made their way home.

    “We are doing everything we can to find those responsible for it and with that, we need the public’s help with any information about the incident.

    “If you recognise the people pictured, or have any information about them, then please contact police. If you were on the tram at the time of the offence and witnessed the attack, please also call us.

    “We take all reports of hate crimes extremely seriously and the message is clear – they will not and never will be tolerated in Greater Manchester.”

    Anyone with any information should call 0161 856 7677 quoting incident number 2269 of 22 January 2017. Alternatively, information can be passed on anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

  • Witnesses suggest that Big Brother stars’ attack was not homophobic

    Witnesses suggest that Big Brother stars’ attack was not homophobic

    Witnesses to the Big Brother stars’ “homophobic attack” have claimed it was not homophobically motivated.

    Channel 5

    Ryan was left with facial injuries after the alleged assault, which took place in Dublin’s city centre. Ryan has shared pictures of his injuries on social media.

    • Claims that the assault was homophobic refuted.

    • An anonymous man says a racist taunt was hurled at Hughie Maughan and all men involved were gay.

    • Ryan showed off his facial injuries on social media.

    Earlier this week, Big Brother stars Ryan Ruckledge and Hughie Maughan said they had been involved in a homophobic attack leaving Ryan with facial injuries and Hughie having to fend off four alleged attackers. The attack came after Ryan and Hughie, who are engaged to be married, were refused entry to a club in Dublin’s city centre.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BP2T7fYhXe7/?taken-by=ryanruckledge

     

    Witnesses are now suggesting that the attack was not homophobically motivated and that the row that broke out with a group of gay men who had exited the club moments before Ryan and Hughie were refused entry.

    CREDIT: Channel 5

    HAPPIER TIMES: The loved pair, who are due to get married, met each other in the Big Brother house in the summer of 2016.

    The Irish Sun reports that one witness who wished to stay anonymous said, “This attack was not homophobic because everyone involved in the fight was gay.”

    The source did say that there was racist taunt hurled at Hughie, who was called a “‘pikey tinker”.

    THEGAYUK approached Ryan to find out whether the incident was reported to the police.

    Read the full story at The Irish Sun

  • Two men bailed after arrest in connection with homophobic attack

    Two men bailed after arrest in connection with homophobic attack

    Police in Oldham, in Greater Manchester, have released two men on bail, after their arrest in connection with an alleged assault on a 21-year-old gay man.

    Yorkshire Street homophobic attack
    CREDIT: Google Maps

    Two men were arrested on the 23rd January in connection with an alleged assault involving a 21-year-old victim. They have been released on bail until 8th March, pending further enquiries.

    Police say that a man was homophobically abused at around 3:20 AM outside a club on Yorkshire Street, in Oldham Town Centre. Police say he was punched in the face repeatedly and homophobic abuse hurled at him.

    He was hospitalised after the attack.

    On the evening of Monday 23 January, two men aged 22 and 28 were arrested on suspicion of section 20 assault and have been bailed until Wednesday 8 March 2017 pending further enquiries.

    Police Constable Laura Cheetham of GMP’s Oldham Borough, said,

    “I’d like to thank the public for their help, which resulted in two people in custody in less than 12 hours since we issued CCTV images.
    “Thanks to the power of social media, two people presented themselves at custody last night, having seen the appeal.
    “We are continuing with our enquiries and I’m encouraging anyone who has any information about this incident to come forward.”

    Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 8922, 101 quoting reference number 1940 of 05/11/16 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

    Oldham is around 8 miles away from Manchester where one of the UK’s biggest gay scenes is located. Manchester’s gay scene was made famous in the late 90s and early 2000s after Channel 4 broadcast the series, Queer As Folk, which centred its drama around the Canal Street area of Manchester.