Two men jailed after telling gay couple they would ‘burn in hell’ during homophobic attack
David Bailey and Ashley Roberts attacked the couple in Manchester City centre
By Steve Brown
Words: Steve Brown
Two men have been jailed after telling a gay couple they would ‘burn in hell’ during a violent homophobic attack in Manchester.
David Bailey, 18, and Ashley Roberts, 19, noticed a couple holding hands near Manchester Piccadilly train station and approached them and demanded they gave them £20 before threatening to kill them.
The two thugs started to punch and kick the couple and told them they will ‘burn in hell’ and said ‘it’s disgusting’ during the attack, Manchester Crown Court heard.
One victim had his glasses and mobile phone damaged during the assault.
Now, according to the Manchester Evening News, the two men have been sentenced to 32 months in a young offender’s institution after pleading guilty to attempted robbery.
“They were perfectly entitled to walk as they were, hand in hand,” Judge Suzanne Goddard QC told the pair.
“Your behaviour was wholly unacceptable that night.”