Man who hurled homophobic abuse at Brighton Pride revellers jailed for four and a half years
31-year-old Ryan Brown, from Crawley, resisted arrest and had to restrained by officers following the incident on 5 August 2017.
By Will Stroude
A man who hurled homophobic and recist abuse at people travelling to Brighton Pride has been jailed for four and a half years.
Ryan Brown, from Crawley in West Sussex, was on his way to the city’s annual LGBT celebration when he began abuse at train passengers and threatened to “knock a women out”,
The 31-year-old resisted arrest at Brighton and had to be restrained by officers following the incident, which took place shortly after 5pm on Saturday 5 August 2017, British Transport Police said.
Brown was found to be carrying a large number of small bags containing the class A drug MDMA, a form of ecstasy.
Image: British Transport Police
He was found guilty of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply and causing fear of violence through racially charged and homophobic language.
Brown’s four and half year jail term included sentencing for a separate matter of affray, criminal damage, and assault with intent to resist arrest, for which he pleaded guilty in December last year.
After Brown was sentenced at Hove Crown Court on Thursday (10 January) British Transport Police DC Imogen Sweeney said: “I would like to thank the victim in this case. She was subjected to a frightening ordeal by Brown, receiving homophobic abuse and witnessing racist abuse.
“She has remained determined to pursue justice throughout this investigation and I have nothing but admiration and praise for her strength.
“Brighton Pride celebrates diversity and equality, values that Brown clearly needs education in. I believe this sentence reflects the seriousness and particularly nasty nature of his offending on that day.”