Plymouth couple attacked gay men, court is told
A WOMAN hit a gay man in the face with a glass bottle as part of a homophobic attack, a court heard.
Natasha Young, aged 21, struck her victim on the nose while her partner Adam Peters punched another gay man several times to the head.
Plymouth Magistrates' Court was told the gay couple were subjected to homophobic abuse during the late-night incident.
A trial judge previously ruled the pair were subjected to an unprovoked homophobic attack but it was not clear who had used insulting words.
A third unidentified man had been involved in the attack.
Both Young and Peters, aged 23, claimed through their solicitors they were not homophobic and had gay friends.
Young, of Newcastle Gardens, Whitleigh, denied common assault and threatening behaviour on June 26 last year.
Peters, of the same address, denied using threatening behaviour during the same incident.
But both were convicted of all charges at a trial.
Sentencing the couple, district judge Martin Steen said they were guilty of "disgraceful behaviour" after drinking.
They were both banned from on-licensed premises for the period of 12-month community orders.
Young must do probation's Female Offender Specified Activity and Peters must complete the Thinking Skills programme.
Both will pay £50 compensation to the man hit with the bottle and each will pay £100 towards prosecution costs.
Gareth Warden, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said the gay couple encountered Peters, Young and the third man shouting up at a window in Holdsworth Street, Pennycomequick, just before 1am.
He said Young persistently asked one of the men for a light until he swore.
The court heard the couple were then subjected to abuse.
Mr Warden said the unidentified man charged at one of the gay men.
He added: "Young pulled a glass bottle from her bag and hit the gay man in the face. The bottle did not break, but he was left with a cut on his nose and backed away."
Mr Warden said another witness living nearby saw Young screaming and waving a second bottle.
He added: "The second gay man was grabbed by the two men including Peters and was hit several times to his head."
Stephen Walker, for Young, said she did not have "any homophobic attitudes whatsoever".
He said the couple had a young child and she was pregnant.
Mr Walker said she had been out of trouble for nine months and had suffered from depression.
Adrian Hill, for Peters, said: "So far as he was concerned, this was not a homophobic incident."
He added he suffered from obsessive compulsive disorder.
97 Comments
View all
by crazyke1978
Monday, February 27 2012, 12:06AM
“@rick_o shay- u say 'were does it say they are from plymouth' hmmm the headline clearly says 'plymouth' couple attack gay men _ just saying”
by flobbalob111
Sunday, February 26 2012, 10:41PM
“mick u are an ****”
by MickBarb
Sunday, February 26 2012, 9:11PM
“JohnnyHibbert quote-"Plymouth....a city that boasts racial intolerance, homophobia, and mindless violence"-unquote
Nah mate that's Teheran”
by Peter20113
Sunday, February 26 2012, 8:29PM
“I indeed use Google chrome spellcheeker
klaatu barada nikto
oops once a chav always a chav”
by ccfarmer29
Sunday, February 26 2012, 8:18PM
“My goodness! Where to start with this one! There seems to be an awful lot of mud-slinging going on but for what it's worth I'd like to add my two cents...
Comments on the defendant's appearance? I do feel that you've missed the point of this article. Whether this is a homophobic attack or not, unprovoked attacks against the LGBT community are still worryingly common despite the radical changes in attitude that we've seen over the last 10 years and each incident needs to be treated seriously. Although it's a number of years ago now, the attacks in Central Park are still in peoples' conciousness. Thankfully we've not seen a repeat of these atrocities recently in our city.
Comments on spelling and grammar. This is something I feel strongly about and there is something to be said for being able to express oneself in a coherent fashion. I'm aware that my grammar isn't always perfect but I try my best. For spelling (especially online) I find that Google Chrome's built-in spell checker is very useful!
@Lordbaalnox: Forgiveable yes, excusable no.
Final point... I don't feel that the Plymouth Herald's website is the place for the defendant to defend themselves. That's why we have courts of law and most the time they make accurate judgements and that's why we have judges: they judge people so we don't have to.
I invite you to make a constructive response to any of my points.”
by lordbaalnox
Sunday, February 26 2012, 6:36PM
“You cant say Sharia Law mate it don't exist in the lives of people who bury there heads in the sand”
by JohnHibbert
Sunday, February 26 2012, 3:26PM
“@ whiteman80Sunday, February 26 2012, 12:47AM
"I am proud to be from Plymouth :)"
Yes, judging from your comments, you are proud to come from a city that boasts racial intolerance, homophobia, and mindless violence. I pity you being brought up in an inbred and racist environment. I hope that you get over your unfounded fear of homosexuals and foreigners and realise that your fear comes only from your own bigotry, ignorance and hatred.”
by crazyke1978
Sunday, February 26 2012, 1:02PM
“Thick brainless UGLY moose haha sounds about right”
by lordbaalnox
Sunday, February 26 2012, 12:59PM
“Someone wrote "this is unforgivable...." hardly love, murder is unforgivable but this was only a cut on the nose and a few bruised egos.”
by AlfieMostaky
Sunday, February 26 2012, 12:28PM
“Ah, poor old tashroxyoung. The poor little victim banging away at the keyboard with her tirade of illiterate defence. Boo Hoo, The Herald has been mean to you. Pah! That's what you get for bottling a stranger. The community in which you live has the right to comment on convicted criminals, live with it it like your victim will have to live with being assaulted by you.
You claim that todays news is yesterdays chip paper. Really? Well you knuckle dragging hag, type your name in to google and see what happens. Your name and this conviction is going to stick with you for a very, very long time.
Now that you are banned from spending your Giro down the strip for a year, you can spend some cash on say....Oh, a dictionary. You do know what this is don't you?
The thing is "bottles", learn to communicate like normal people and you won't feel the need to give people a good going over because your er....man, can't get a light.
Anyway you big brave girl, in future, not having your hide dragged in to court will save you the public humiliation of being described as a moose, ugly, thick, antisocial, grubby and a poor parent. People won't get an opportunity to pull you apart for your fashion sense (or lack of it) or make subtle suggestions about your fella having a thing for his school football captain (a little predictable that one but hey! life can be tough).
Personal responsibility. Yes it's a hassle but it's what most people live by. Still look on the bright side. You have year to sit on the couch drinking cheap supermarket booze watching Jeremy Kyle on the tele while decent people are out enjoying themselves. Have fun.”