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.

  • Gay Escort Jailed For Blackmailing Married Man

    A gay escort has been jailed for the blackmailing of a married businessman and sending his wife a picture of him wearing women’s underwear.

    John Walker, 29 has been sentenced to 32 months in jail after he was found guilty of blackmailing a businessman. The Leeds Crown Court heard that Walker had managed to extort nearly £5000 from the man.

    According to the Times Walker threaten to expose the unnamed 49-year-old victim with pictures of him wearing women’s underwear, watching gay porn and taking drugs during a scheduled meeting in Feb this year after the pair met on a gay escorting website and had agreed on a £1800 fee.

    David Lampitt, the prosecutor said that during a conversation between the two, Walker told the victim

    “that he was cheating on his wife and thought it was disgusting. He warned the complainant that he should be more careful with his phone and wallet because people could extort money from him.”

    The day after their meet the victim was sent a text message in which he threatened to ring the man’s wife.

    The victim sent his blackmailer £3000 but the blackmailing didn’t stop. In March Walker sent a video text of his victim wearing women’s underwear to the man’s wife.

    It was then that the victim admitted what he had done to his wife and reported the incident to the police.

  • London Gay Centres Are A Breeding Ground For Homophobic Attacks

    Westminster and Vauxhall, two of London’s main LGBT areas have been revealed as having the most homophobic hate crimes reported.

    Westminster has been revealed as having the most homophobic hate crimes reported followed by Vauxhall, both locations are known to home the majority of London’s LGBTI spaces. Crimes in Westminster have soared 23% while in Lambeth, which homes Vauxhall’s gay scene, anti-gay crimes have risen 25%.

    When Hackney, which homes another important LGBTI centre (Shoreditch) is included in the number of crimes reported up to July 2015 rises to 406 – over 1 crime per day.

    Overall, homophobic crime has risen, year on year, 29.3% in the capital. However, this may be a result of more reports of crimes. Of course, these figures do not reflect the true scale of the problem – as many crimes against LGBTI’s go unreported. Research from University of Leicester’s Centre for Hate Studies reveals that 88 per cent of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people had experienced some form of hate incident and that over 35,000 of these crimes go unreported across the UK.

    Shockingly some boroughs have seen increases of up to 217% (Bromley) and 185% in Croydon. Almost every borough has seen an increase of anti-gay crimes.

    A total of 1667 homophobic hate crimes were reported in the 12 months to July 2015, up from 1289 in the 12 months to July 2014. The figure rounds down to almost 5 homophobic hate crimes a day in the UK’s capital.

    Crime in London had risen overall by 3.5%.

  • Kim Davis, Woman Who Refused Gay Marriage License Taken Into Custody

    The woman who refused to issue marriage licenses to two gay men in Kentucky has been jailed.

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  • Man Who Shot And Killed Two Journalists On Air Described Himself As Gay

    The TV shooter who killed two former co-workers blames homophobia and racial discrimination on his double murder and suicide.

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  • Man Jailed For Life After Brutal Attack On Young Gay Man

    A Leeds man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of a young gay student who was dumped under railway arches.

    Richard Dennis Langdon Danter, a 31-year-old Leeds man, savagely beat and stamped on the former student, Billy Makelow, 20, until he was unconscious, before dumping his half naked body on the 25th April (2015).

    The pair had met in the gay bar Viaduct Show Bar near Leeds train station and were seen leaving the venue together at 2.44am.

    The student, who had been studying social sciences, was then subjected to an attack which the surgeons who worked to save the young man, said they never seen so much trauma, which was completely focused on the head and facial area.

    The Recorder of Leeds Peter Collier QC said,

    “Such was the savageness and brutality of your focused attack on his head, I am driven to conclude that at that moment your intention was to kill him.”

     

    After the first attack Danter, who described himself in court as bisexual, returned to the nightclub for another drink, where he told people he had just killed someone. Later he returned to the scene and moved a brutalised Mr. Mankelow to a more secluded area.

     

    Mr Collier continued,

    “You left him where you had assaulted him, helpless and dying, and went back to the nightclub. Later you went back and moved his body further into the arches, no doubt intending to make it more unlikely that he would be discovered.

    “You also removed and disposed of his mobile phone, whether or not he would have been capable of calling for help himself I can never know.”

    Two men who had taken a wrong turning found Mr. Mankelow. They saw a man dragging what they suspected was a body into one of the arches. They discovered Mr. Mankelow, who was unconscious and notified the emergency services and taken to Leeds General Infirmary where he was placed on life support in intensive care.

    Mr. Mankelow’s life support was turned off on the 26th April, with his family present.

    According to an official statement by the British Transport Police,

    “Officers attended the Viaduct bar and spoke to staff and viewed CCTV which led them to Danter. He was arrested at 1pm on Sunday, 26 April close to his home address in Queens Road, Leeds.

    “Follow up enquiries also revealed that directly after the incident, Danter returned to the Viaduct bar and spoke to a number of members of staff stating he had just killed someone, a confession he also relayed to a friend a short while later.”

     

    TRAGIC WASTE OF YOUNG LIFE

    Detective Chief Inspector David Shipperlee of British Transport Police’s major investigation team said:

    “Billy, an innocent, caring and popular young man, died as a result of serious head injuries received during a sustained and what we believe to be, totally unprovoked attack. He received more than 20 blows to his head, the majority of which were as a result of being kicked and stamped on.

    “After he assaulted him, Danter dragged Billy into an alcove in the railway arch, presumably to conceal his body, and left him for dead.

    “His death is such a tragic waste of a young life, a life taken by a violent, evil and dangerous man, who has a history of previous convictions for violence and sexual offences, who is now where he belongs, behind bars.”

    SENSELESS AND UNNECESSARY

    A statement from Billy’s family read,

    “Billy loved life and had lots of friends. He was independent and motivated and went to study at Leeds University in 2013. Billy loved Leeds, a place where he made a life for himself and had lots of friends.

    “Billy would always make time to come back to Kent in the holidays to spend time with his family.

    “At the time of his death Billy had been working for Capita and had passed his training course and was due to start his new role only two days after his death.

    “Billy’s family and friends are all distraught at the way Billy died; which was so senseless and unnecessary. Billy was simply out with friends having a good time with his life ahead of him.

    “We as a family will never get over the way he died, we have lost a person of exceptional kindness and good nature.

    “Billy’s tragic loss will be felt by everyone who knew him for a long time.”

     

  • Homophobe Calls Himself Batman After Exposing His Penis

    A man has been sentenced and fined after exposing himself and using a gay slur.

    Nathan McMahon, 27, told police he was Batman after being arrested for exposing himself in a pub in Somerset in April.

    The court heard that he drunkenly called the landlord a “gay git” before pulling out his penis and exposing himself in front a customer. He went on to cause damage to plants and a for sale sign, as well as urinating in the street.

    Prosecutor Lucy Coleman said,

    “They were both drunk and after being served with a second pint McMahon called the landlord a gay git and then took out his penis and testicles and put them on the bar in front of another customer,”

    “The landlord took their drinks away but they continued to swear at him so he pressed his panic button to alert the police and they left.”

     

    McMahon also pleaded guilty to using abusive words and behaviour.

    His defendant, Tom Briggs said it was “a drunken night that went terribly wrong”.

    “McMahon had a disagreement with the landlord while he was asking for some money for the jukebox and this ended in him being abusive and he left the pub,” he said.

    “Then, with aggression inside him, he went outside and he kicked some plants, punched the sign and damaged a gate.”

     

    Manchester based McMahon has been ordered to a 12-month community order with 120 hours of unpaid work as well as paying £235 in compensation.

  • Teenage Victim Of The Jerusalem Pride Stabber Dies

    A teenager who was one of the 6 victims of the Jerusalem Pride stabber has died from her injuries.

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  • WATCH: Horrific Glass Attack In Manchester Gay Village

    Police are looking to question two men in connection with a vicious attack in Manchester’s gay village, which left one man with a cut to his head.

    Police in Manchester have released CCTV footage taken from inside the New Union pub on Princess Street in the centre of Manchester’s gay village. The chilling footage, shot on the 7th June 2015, shows two men brawling with a man who was struck in the head with a glass. The victim, a 43-year-old male, was left with a cut to the head.

    A second man then threw a chair towards the victim before being ejected from the pub. Police have now issued CCTV footage of the incident.

     

    The main offender is described as being white, in his 30s, of a medium build, with short dark hair and a bear. He was wearing a light coloured jacket and a light coloured T-shirt with a CND logo on the front, and dark trousers.

    The man who threw the chair was white, in his 30s, of a stocky build, with a shaved head and wearing a light-coloured hoody with the logo EAZ on the front.

    Detective Constable Sean Downey said: “The victim suffered a cut to his head as a result of being attacked, and in some ways is fortunate the injuries were not more severe.

    “The offender could have had no control over where the shards of glass went and we could have been dealing with a very grave injury. That we aren’t is pure luck, so we are treating this very seriously and we need to find the offender.

    “We have issued CCTV footage and I would urge anyone who recognises the man in the images to call us.

    “Alternatively, if you were in the pub that night and witnessed what happened, or you suspect who may be responsible, then please call us.”

    Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

  • Rapist Used Full Body Weight To Rape Male Student In Hotel

    A man has been jailed for six years for raping a student he lured to a non-existent job interview.

    Sebastian Szerer, a hotel housekeeper who was convicted of rape at the Old Bailey yesterday has been sentenced to jail for 6-years. The victim was lured in July 2012, to the four star hotel, which over-looks Buckingham Palace for a job interview, one that Sebastian Szerer, 39, had made up after talking with the victim on gay dating app Jack’d.

    The court heard, after the “formal” part of the interview, Szerer showed the unidentified student the Queen Suite to show off where celebrities stayed whilst booked in at the hotel and suggested that the student try the bed to see how comfortable it was. The court heard that Szerer then advanced upon the student, who fell back onto the bed. Szerer pinned the student down and forced the terrified 24-year-old into oral sex. The court heard how he used his full body weight to hold the man down.

    During the trial the student told the court that he was “distraught, shaken up, absolutely petrified.”

    The victim kept the brutal attack secret for a year. He only eventually contacted Victim Support after Szerer re-contacted him on social media with the chilling message, “Hello stranger.”

    Szerer, who had worked for Red Carnation Hotels, the company, which owns Rubens, for six years, according to his Linkedin, was, found guilty of one count of rape yesterday at the Old Bailey in London and will be sentenced today.

    Investigating officer, Detective Inspector Lee Davison, of Sexual Offences Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: “Szerer abused his position as Head House Keeper.

    “He purposely lured the victim to the hotel on the pretext of a job interview that didn’t exist. He then raped him. Thankfully he has been found guilty and I praise the victim today for his decision to report this rape to the police.

    “The Metropolitan Police’s Sexual Offences Exploitation & Child Abuse Command will pursue all such offenders to bring them to justice and I would encourage anyone who has suffered at the hand of another to report the matter in the knowledge that they will be believed and supported.”

     

    Szerer has been jailed for 6 years.

     

    If you have been affected by this report and need to talk with somebody, please contact: MPower on 0808 808 4321 or Survivors UK

     

  • Hotel Worker Convicted For Raping Man Attending Job Interview

    Sebastian Szerer, 39 was convicted of one count of rape today, Wednesday, 29 July, following a trial at the Old Bailey.

    The court heard that Szerer raped the 25-year-old man at the Rubens Hotel, Buckingham Palace Road, Westminster, on 15 April, 2012, when he went there for the interview for a job which did not exist.

    He conducted the interview and then showed the victim around the hotel.

    The court heard he then took him the Queen’s Suite at the hotel. Szerer then locked the room and proceeded to rape the victim.

    The victim kept the assault secret for a year until Szerer sent him a message on a social networking site stating “hello stranger”.

    It was this message prompted the victim to attend Victim Support and tell them about the rape.

    They then encouraged him to contact the police.

    On 23 April, 2013, Szerer was arrested and subsequently charged.

    Investigating officer, Detective Inspector Lee Davison, of Sexual Offences Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said:

    “Szerer abused his position as Head House Keeper.

    “He purposely lured the victim to the hotel on the pretext of a job interview that didn’t exist. He then raped him. Thankfully he has been found guilty and I praise the victim today for his decision to report this rape to the police.

    “The Metropolitan Police’s Sexual Offences Exploitation & Child Abuse Command will pursue all such offenders to bring them to justice and I would encourage anyone who has suffered at the hand of another to report the matter in the knowledge that they will be believed and supported.”

    Szerer will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Thursday, 30 July.

  • Gay Man In Texas Charged With Murder After Violent Attack On Boyfriend

    Bryan Canchola, a 20-year-old from Texas has been charged with the murder of his boyfriend after a violent fight over suspected cheating.

    The Austin American-Stateman reports, that the Texas man has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly beating his 18-year-old boyfriend, Stephen Sylvester, to death. According to Canchola’s co-workers the pair had been dating for two months.

    Sylvester was found unconscious by police at his home, but died later from injuries sustained in a brutal attack.

    A roommate told police that he had heard fighting between the two boyfriends after he arrived home in the early morning and it was then that Canchola accused Sylvester of cheating. The fight apparently escalated with the roommate hearing “banging and violent crashing”.

    According to arrest warrant affidavit the roommate also heard Sylvester’s pet dog crying out in pain after Canchola reportedly threatened to kill it.

    The last picture on Stephen’s Instagram account is of Canchola and him in an embrace. In the profile section of his account Stephen wrote: “This is my life’s journey, Dare to follow?”

    The roommate found Sylvester after the fight, conscious but with bleeding coming from the back of his head and transported him to University Medical Center Brackenridge. However, Sylvester left the hospital before receiving medical treatment. He returned back to his apartment.

    Later, Canchola called the police to report that the 18-year-old was unconscious. He was once again rushed to the hospital but died of bleeding on the brain according to an autopsy. He also suffered a neck fracture.

    Chanchola is in the Travis County Jail and his bail is set at $500,000

    A friend has set up a GoFundMe page to help fund Stephen’s funeral.