Two people have been arrested in connection with an assault on a 21-year-old victim.
CREDIT: Google Maps
Police in Greater Manchester have confirmed that two men were arrested in connection with an assault on a 21-year-old man, which police allege was homophobically motivated.
The arrests come a day after police released images of two suspects they wanted to talk to in connection with the assault in which the victim was allegedly punched in the face repeatedly.
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.
Two men have been jailed for a homophobic attack that took place in Brighton last year.
CREDIT: Brighton Police
Gage Vye-Parminter, 18, of Breydon Walk, and Matthew Howes, 19, of Weald Drive, have both been jailed for five years for the homophobic attack on two men in Brighton. They admitted GHB and assault on two men in the city’s centre. They were ordered to pay a £170 victim surcharge.
The court heard that officers in a patrolling police car were flagged down by a passing taxi driver who told them two men had just been attacked in Kings Road, on the south pavement opposite the Queens Hotel.
Vye-Parminter and Howes were arrested at the scene and taken into custody for questioning. The victims said the pair were walking behind them along the seafront shouting homophobic comments at them. The 22-year-old, who now lives in Camberley, Surrey, said he then remembered being knocked to the floor and attacked before losing consciousness.
The attack was just one of the anti-gay attacks that rocked Brighton’s gay scene in 2016.
Detective constable Sarah Townsend said:
“This was a violent and unprovoked homophobic attack on two men who were singled out for their sexual orientation.
“This sentence sends out a clear signal that we will take a robust approach to those who target individuals based on their race, disability, gender identity, religion or sexual orientation.
“I hope this case will encourage other victims of hate crime to report such behaviour and violence to the police.”
Police are looking for two men they want to speak to after a man was subjected to a homophobic attack in Oldham, Manchester.
Manchester Police
Police say a 21-year-old victim was subjected to a homophobic verbal and physical attack in Greater Manchester. Police are looking to speak to two men in connection with the incident which happened in Oldham in November 2016.
Officers in Oldham, Greater Manchester, have now released images of two men they wish to speak to in connection with the attack.
At around 6.35pm on Saturday 5 November 2016, police were called to reports of a hate crime that occurred at around 3.20am that morning, outside a club on Yorkshire Street, Oldham Town Centre.
A 21-year-old man was in a club with his partner when an altercation ensued between himself and three other people.
Following this, two men were ejected from the club.
CREDIT: Google Maps
The victim then went outside with his partner for a cigarette, where the altercation that began in the club continued before he was repeatedly punched in the face and had homophobic abuse hurled at him.
A short time later, the victim was walking along Yorkshire Street when a further confrontation ensued.
He was taken to hospital with facial injuries.
One of the men is described as white, aged between 20 and 25-years-old and was wearing a blue t-shirt.
The other man is described as Asian, between 5ft 8in and 5ft 9in and also aged between 20 and 25-years-old. He is of a chubby build and was wearing a shirt.
Police Constable Laura Cheetham of GMP’s Oldham Borough, said,
“We have been carrying out our enquiries for more than two months now but need the public’s help to make further progress.
“I’d encourage anyone who recognises the men in the CCTV images or the description of the men who were in the area at that time, to get in touch with us.
“We take reports of hate crimes extremely seriously and I’d like to stress that it will not be tolerated on the streets of Greater Manchester.”
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.
A woman was grabbed by the throat and robbed in what police in London are calling a homophobic attack.
CREDIT: Google Maps 2016
Detectives in Lambeth Borough are appealing for witnesses and information following the robbery of a woman in Denmark Hill.
The incident happened at some point between 22:15hrs and 23:15hrs on Friday, 30 December 2016 on Denmark Hill, SE5.
The victim, a 37-year-old woman, was approached by a group outside the Nandos restaurant. One of the group, a woman, made homophobic remarks to the victim before grabbing her around the neck and forcing the victim to hand over her belongings. The suspect then threatened the victim and then fled the scene.
Detectives from Lambeth Community Safety Unit are appealing for anyone who was in or around the area and may have seen the incident, or the suspects fleeing the scene, to contact police.
Anyone who can assist police is urged to contact police in Lambeth via 101 or by tweeting @MetCC.
To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.
On 6 January a 36-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of robbery. She has been released on bail until late February pending further enquiries.
It is being reported that a gay couple and their two friends, in North Yorkshire, were beaten by a group of up to 15 in a homophobic incident.
CREDIT: Google Maps
A gay couple and their two friends were left needing medical attention, after an attack by “group of about 15” outside a pub in Thornaby, North Yorkshire by what they call a “homophobic gang”.
Jayson Homer and his partner, 21, and two friends, Marc Vasey and a female friend, allege that the incident started at around 8:30 PM inside the pub, where they were enjoying a festive drink. Jayson’s partner, who wished to remain anonymous, says that he was questioned about his religion by another group at the pub. The debate escalated to verbal abuse when he said that the group started calling him homophobic slurs.
Speaking to the Gazette Live the anonymous victim said,
“At first a girl in the group started taking the mick out of me for being Jewish. Then another lad from the group came over saying being Jewish was a race.
“I was disagreeing with him and it was just a little debate really at first. But then the girl started shouting ‘queer’ at me. Every time I went to the toilet someone said it while I was walking past.”
Eventually, the couple and their two friends decided to leave the pub at 11.15 PM, when they say they were set upon and physically attacked by “a group of about 15” on Thornaby Road.
Jayson said that he was bottled in the face and had to have a CT scan at the hospital to check for brain damage. His partner suffered bruising and a black eye.
Jayson said that the attack has left him feeling suicidal and petrified to leave his own home.
He said,
“To tell the truth it left me feeling suicidal. I was petrified to go out of my front door but I’m not going to let it stop me living my life.”
According to Gazette Live this is the second homophobic attack in less than a week in Thornaby. On Wednesday 21st December a 30-year-old cyclist was assaulted, following a homophobic verbal attack by two men. His attackers were travelling in a white Mercedes, when they pulled over, shouted homophobic abuse at him, got out of their car and attacked him.
Convicted killer Stefano Brizzi has been sentenced to 24 years jail time for the murder of a gay serving police officer.
Stefano Brizzi has been handed a 24-year jail term for the murder of a serving police officer, Gordon Semple. The jail term means he will be at least 74 before he can apply for parole. He was also served with a seven years’ imprisonment for obstructing a coroner from holding an inquest, for which this sentence will run concurrently.
Brizzi was found guilty of murder at the same court on Monday, 14 November, but pleaded guilty to obstructing a coroner on Thursday, 20 October – the first day of his trial.
Brizzi, 50, went to great lengths to dispose of 59-year-old Gordon Semple, by dismembering him and getting rid of him in a manner which “amounts to cannibalism”. Police investigating Semple’s death also revealed that they found “a number of bottles of chemicals scattered over the hallway floor and in the bathroom,” when they arrived at Brizzi’s address.
CREDIT: Metropolitan Police
On Friday, 1 April, Gordon Semple, who dedicated 30 years of his working life to the police, was on duty and had been at a meeting in London Bridge. Phone evidence has shown that at just after 14:00hrs that day he used the dating app Grindr to arrange to meet Brizzi for sex at his south London flat. That afternoon, Brizzi strangled Gordon Semple to death and over the following week set about systematically disposing of his body in a bid to either avoid being caught or ensuring that Gordon could never be identified.
Police arrived at Brizzi’s address six days later on Thursday, 7 April, after neighbours called them and the London Ambulance Service after becoming increasingly concerned about a vile stench emanating from the flat.
On arrival at the door, the officers were greeted by Brizzi wearing his underpants. The officers noted a number of bottles of chemicals scattered over the hallway floor, and in the bathroom discovered bin bags containing body parts.
Brizzi was arrested on suspicion of murder and taken to Lewisham police station.
Commander Nick Downing, from the Metropolitan Police Service, said,
“Today, my heart goes out to Gordon’s partner, family, loved ones, friends and colleagues. They have my deepest sympathy; his loss continues to be acutely felt.
“Brizzi has shown no remorse for his actions, since the time of his arrest and throughout his trial. With today’s sentence a dangerous man, whose cold calculated actions were deeply disturbing, is behind bars.”
Statement on behalf of the family of Gordon Semple,
“Gordon continues to be sadly missed by our family. Gordon we miss you so much, may you rest in peace.
“Gordon was a loyal and much loved long term partner, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, cousin and friend to all.
“We were devastated when the news broke of Gordon’s murder and the circumstances which are still incredibly hard to deal with. It is still insurmountably upsetting. Nothing takes away the pain of our loss.
“At Gordon’s funeral we met many of his friends and work colleagues – we were proud to hear how fondly they thought of Gordon.”
Passing sentence the Recorder of London Nicholas Hilliard QC, said,
“The PCs on scene encountered something no amount of training could have prepared them for. I commend them both.
“Mr Semple was dearly loved by his family and friends and no sentence carried by this court can equate to the precious human life lost.”
Addressing Brizzi directly he said: “No sentence I can pass can undo what you’ve done.
“I have no doubt that there came a time when you went beyond what was agreed and you decided to cause him really serious harm.”
He added: “Your attempts to conceal what happened and dismembering and destroying his body are terrible features of the case.”
A gay couple in Devon have had graffiti painted onto the side of their pub in Buckfastleigh.
CREDIT: Google Map 2016
A pub, owned by a gay couple in Buckfastleigh, South Devon, has had homophobic graffiti sprayed onto its wall. The word “puff” was sprayed in black onto the white wall of The Globe Inn pub, on Plymouth Road in Devon. Several of the pub’s windows were also daubed with the black spray.
Dan Simpson, who co-owns the pub with his partner Lee Boxall reported the graffiti to the police as a hate crime.
According to the Plymouth Herald, Dan said,
“It seems that one individual has used a spray can on the CCTV camera, before then targeting the windows and doors, before spraying the word ‘Puff’, not spelt properly, on the wall.
“There was some real community spirit shown and it is great that people did come out and support us.”
Taking to the pub’s official Facebook page, the owners thanked a team of volunteers for offering to help clean off the graffiti.
“Thank you to all the volunteers who offered help with cleaning the graffiti off the pub this morning… It’s really appreciated! Some festive pics to lighten the mood…”
Four families have been left devastated by the actions taken by serial murderer Stephen Port, who used drugs to “stupefy his victims” without their knowledge to rape or sexually assault them. He then murdered them and disposed of their bodies near and around his home in Barking, East-London.
Anthony Walgate was Stephen Port’s first victim. He was 23 at the time of his murder.
Anthony was pronounced dead at the scene. His top was pulled up, consistent with his body having been dragged along the ground. A holdall next to him contained a bottle with traces of drugs.
In a victim impact statement released by Anthony’s family, they spoke of their devastation.
“Not only has this devastated our family it has broken it as well and I don’t know if it will ever be fixed. Tom has lost his only child, Paul has lost his only sibling and I have lost my youngest child, who was my baby.
“Anthony was a clever, funny, talented young man. All he ever wanted from being young was to be a famous fashion designer and with his passion and determination I’m sure he would have made it.”
Gabriel Kovari
Gabriel Kovari was 22 at the time of his murder. Port met Gabriel Kovari, who had come to London from Slovakia to begin a new life, on a dating website in August 2014 and let him move into his flat. On the morning of 28 August, a dog-walker came across Gabriel’s body propped against a wall in Abbey Green, Barking, about 500 metres from Port’s flat. Gabriel’s clothing was also pulled up as if he had been dragged.
Gabriel’s brother wrote that he couldn’t describe the loss and that his brother’s murder would change his family’s life forever. In his victim impact statement he wrote,
“The impact of the loss of my brother Gabriel can hardly be described in words. He was my only brother. His death was so unnecessary and he had so much to experience in his life. He was so young. I was the one who had to tell our mom, my brother had died. There is no pain greater than losing a child.
“What happened changed our lives forever, we are no longer the same family we once were. He was a great guy discovering himself, when he became a victim of this atrocity.”
Daniel Whitworth
Daniel Whitworth was the youngest of Port’s victims at just 21-year-old. Daniel, a chef from Gravesend, was found dead on 20 September 2014. Port suggested to Gabriel’s partner that maybe Daniel had killed Gabriel and then himself. Daniel was also found slumped against a wall in Abbey Green, by the same dog-walker who had found Gabriel. The top half of Daniel’s clothing had again ridden up and there was a small bottle containing liquid and traces of drugs in his pocket.
Daniel’s family describe a man who had a “zest for life”
Amanda Pearson, speaking on behalf of the Whitworth family said,
“I, alongside his father and partner, witnessed his lifeless body 17 days after his death in the morgue…the one and only farewell from us and a vision that will remain with me for all time, not just the image of young life lost, but of the love of my life pressed against the glass that divided him from his son. A chapel of rest was not available to us on the return of his body in November 2014 due to decomposition and his Grandma was bereft at having had no chance to say her goodbyes at all’
Jack Taylor
Jack Taylor was 25 at the time of his death. He was the last of Port’s victims and his body was found in September 2015. Jack is believed to have died soon after he met Port as four-and-a-half hours later Port blocked Jack’s account on Grindr. On 14 September Jack’s body was found by a refuse collector in Abbey Green, slumped against a wall with his shirt pulled up. A bottle containing liquid and traces of drugs plus a syringe and a bag of drugs were found on him.
His family described how their lives have been destroyed since the death of Jack,
“Our worlds turned upside down and our lives were destroyed when we were told about Jack’s death.
“We were originally told that Jack had died of a drug overdose and we all knew instantly that he had not done this to himself. We had to investigate this ourselves as we were not going to accept that Jack had done this to himself.
“The black hole that has now been left in our family can never and will never be filled. We have to face this for the rest of our lives.”
Stephen Port has been handed a whole-life term prison sentence for the murders of four men he found on gay dating apps.
CREDIT: met police
The former chef, Stephen Port was handed a whole-life prison term by the judge Mr Justice Openshaw, who remarked Port should die in prison for the four murders of men he found on gay dating apps and websites.
The 41-year-old was also found guilty of 10 offences of administering a substance with intent, four rapes and four sexual assaults.
Port was convicted at the Old Bailey in London where the judge said that Port had carried out the murders to “satisfy his lust” for sex with men who were rendered unconscious.
Port was found guilty of the murders of Anthony Patrick Walgate, 23, Gabriel Kovari, 22, Daniel Whitworth, 21 and Jack Taylor, 25. Their bodies were dumped in or near a graveyard in Barking. The graveyard was 500 meters away from his flat in east London.
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The Independent Police Complaints Commission, who are currently investigating the Metropolitan Police for their response to the deaths of four men in London are looking for witnesses who may have had contact with Stephen Port to come forward.
Serial killer Stephen Port, 41, is due to be sentenced today for the vicious murders of four men that he found on online via gay dating apps and websites. He was found guilty of their murders earlier this week with a majority verdict of the jury.
Port was found guilty of the murders of Anthony Patrick Walgate, 23, Gabriel Kovari, 22, Daniel Whitworth, 21 and Jack Taylor, 25. Their bodies were dumped in or near a graveyard in Barking. The graveyard was 500 meters away from his flat in east London.
The 41-year-old was also found guilty of 10 offences of administering a substance with intent, four rapes and four sexual assaults.
The murders took place between June 2014 and September 2015.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission, who are currently investigating the Metropolitan Police for their response to the deaths of four men in London are looking for witnesses who may have had contact with Stephen Port to come forward.
A gun attack has left one dead and three wounded in a gay club in Albany New York
CREDIT: Google Maps
Police responded to an emergency call out when shots were fired at a gay bar in Albany, New York at 2:00AM Thursday morning. Police report that four people were shot inside the Rocks On Central Avenue night-club.
The venue’s management describes it as “proudly gay owned and operated”.
Among the injured were two men and two women. Of the men, one died from his injuries according to reports.
Three others had injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.
WTEN reports that at least one person was taken into custody.
Police believe that the venue was not targetted because of the patron’s sexuality but that the shootings happened for no specific reason.
“The one thing we want to let members of our community members know, especially the members of our LGBT community know that this is not a random act, this bar was not targeted for any specific reason.”
No motive has been made clear at this time and the suspect’s details have not been released.
