Three admit drunken assault after anti-gay taunts
Two women and a man have admitted drunkenly assaulting a man outside a gay pub saying they were provoked by his gestures through the window and homophobic taunts.
Gloucester Magistrates Court heard that in February, the defendants had been drinking heavily at the Westgate pub in Westgate Street before physically attacking the man outside.
Ria Marsh, 25, Anthony Fairley, 45, and Claire Armitage, 35 pleaded guilty to the assault of Timothy Challen, The Citizen reports.
Prosecuting solicitor Louise Pinder told the court: “The three defendants came out of the pub and approached the victim and one of them said ‘he shouldn’t be allowed in here – he is not gay’.
“Armitage and Marsh punched him to the head and Fairley then punched him twice in quick succession.
“Armitage and Marsh then punched and kicked Mr Challen while he was on the floor.
“Marsh admitted to having consumed between 20 and 30 double vodkas, Armitage had been drinking lager and taking cocaine and Fairley had drunk 12 pints of lager, bottles of beer and shots.
“The attack was captured on CCTV and the victim suffered cuts and bruising.
“When the police arrived, Armitage tried to run away.”
Nicola Berryman, Fairley’s solicitor, said in his defence: “It was just after midnight when the three defendants were out drinking and met up in the Westgate pub.
“The victim had been causing trouble and goading the two women for a long time and making offensive remarks. “The pub manager and doorstaff actually asked the victim to leave and he went and sat outside.
“But then he started to make offensive gestures through the pub window and when they left at 1.20am, he was still there.
“There was a high degree of provocation.”
The judge said they risked a prison sentence as it was a “very serious and sustained attack” and noted the three were “all drunk at the time”.
The three were granted bail with sentencing expected later this week.
