Young couple bruised and battered in ‘transphobic and homophobic’ attack for the simple crime of going out to dinner
The victims sustained minor injuries in the hate-fuelled attack (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Police are appealing for witnesses after two people were punched and kicked in a suspected homophobic and transphobic attack in York city centre.
The victims were a young couple aged 20 and 21, who had been enjoying a meal in the historic city.
Between midnight and 12.10am in the early hours of Sunday (July 26), shortly after they ended their meal, the couple were walking near St Denys Road and Dennis Street when their evening was interrupted by an unknown man.
The encounter quickly turned violent as the man subjected them to hate-fuelled verbal and physical abuse. Police believe he was motivated by transphobic and homophobic views.
Both victims sustained injuries in the attack, and officers are now appealing to the public to come forward with any information that might lead to a conviction.
“The victims were punched and kicked, causing minor injuries and bruising,” a spokeswoman for North Yorkshire Police said in a statement.
“It is suspected the assault was motivated by transphobic and homophobic views. We are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.”
In particular they are appealing for information about the assailant, who is described as a white man in his early 20s.
He was of skinny build and medium height with brown hair and wearing a black top. He was also seen with a woman, who had long blonde hair.
Hate crimes in general are on the rise in the UK, but trans people are twice as likely to be victims of crime as cisgender people, new figures from the Office for National Statistics show.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option two, and ask for collar number 688.
Tips can also be sent via to email [email protected], or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, quoting North Yorkshire Police reference number 12200127673.
