Bisexual 15-year-old left with broken bones following ‘terrifying’ homophobic attack
By Will Stroude
Teenager Jamie Watson was left with broken ribs, a fractured arm and cuts and bruises after a horrifying homophobic attack in Birmingham last month (July 22).
The 15-year-old, who had recently come out as bisexual, admitted that he thought he would be killed in the attack, according to a report in The Mirror.
“It was absolutely terrifying and I feared for my life. There was three of them in total and they all wore masks,” he said.
“I was in a lot of pain and was taken to Heartlands Hospital. I was struggling to breathe and was left with broken ribs, a fracture to my arm and cuts and bruises.
“I also had damage to the muscles in my neck due to the force of the kicks to my head.
“It was a terrifying experience and I staggered home covered in blood.”
Jamie claims to have been previously harassed by the group, who had hurled homophobic insults at him in the past.
His mother Sharron Patrick, 46, said: “This has knocked the confidence out of Jamie. Jamie has now gone to my mother and father’s home, where he can at least go out of his front door without feeling threatened.
“This is a solution over the school summer holidays but is not the long-term answer. He feels like a prisoner in his own home”.
The police have appealed for information on the attack, which took place at 3:30pm on August 22 in Ward End Road, Ward End, Birmingham.
Detective Sergeant James Bennett, from Birmingham’s Violent Crime Team , said: “We are trawling CCTV for any clues and want to speak to anyone who was in the area at the time and who may have seen the attack to come forward.
“At this stage we believe the attackers could be local and we are sure someone knows who these men are. This was a truly horrendous attack that left the teenager with severe injuries that needed hospital treatment.
“The attackers showed no regard for their victim and repeatedly kicked him to the head and body. Rest assured that we will do everything we can to find those responsible.”
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