Buckinghamshire: Police appeal over potentially homophobic attack

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Thames Valley Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses in High Wycombe after a man was physically assaulted and was thought to be subjected to verbal homophobic abuse in the early hours of Sunday morning.

At around 1.55am, a 22-year-old man was found with head injuries outside Pizza Go Go in Castle Street.

Det Sergeant Sally Spencer, leading the investigation, said: ā€œAlthough we have made three arrests in this investigation, we believe that there was possibly a fourth person involved in the assault.

ā€œThe person we are looking to speak to is a skinny white man who was wearing a dark coloured hooded top and jeans.

ā€œI ask anyone who has information, and has not yet come forward, to contact the police as soon as possible.ā€

Area Commander, Supt Gilbert Houalla, added: ā€œI would like to make it absolutely clear that we have a team of officers investigating this incident who will not stop until the case is successfully concluded.

ā€œThis assault isnā€™t believed to be a random attack and is possibly linked to a previous incident in late 2011, early 2012.

ā€œAlthough we are keeping an open mind in relation to the reason behind the attack, it is thought that homophobic language could have been used at the time and I would like to take this opportunity to let the Wycombe community know that any form of hate crime is not acceptable anywhere in the Wycombe police area.ā€

Anyone with information on the assault should contact Det Sgt Spencer on 101 or the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111, or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.