Gay man attacked by gang who tricked him into meeting, court hears
A gay man was attacked by a gang who tricked him into meeting them in a car park, a court heard yesterday.
The 50-year-old victim suffered a fractured skull after he was beaten with bats, the Leicester Mercury reports.
Leicester crown court heard that he was apparently contacted on a gay internet forum.
After several phone conversations with a man, the victim agreed to meet him at a car park in Colts Close, Burbage, near Hinckley.
Prosecutor Mark Van der Zwart said the victim went to the car park at 8pm on Sunday March 14th, as arranged. After waiting for some time, he called the man and was told to go to a nearby park.
When he got there, Mr Van der Zwart said, he was approached by four men who attacked him with bats.
The victim said he was told: “You won’t be meeting gay guys again.” The gang ran off when the victim said he would get money from his car, the court heard.
Bleeding from two head wounds, the victim went to a nearby house to seek help before going to hospital.
Mr Van der Zwart said the victim needed 28 stitches for his head wounds, which were deep enough to show the bone.
Adam Ayres, 18, of The Gables, Watling Street, Hinckley, denies conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm between March 11th and 15th last year.
The court heard that one of the phone numbers used to contact the victim was registered to Ayres’ home and there was evidence that his computer had been on the same gay website used.
Text and Facebook messages referring to the attack were allegedly passed between Mr Ayres and his cousin and a broken extendable bat was found in his room, the court heard.
