Lesbian couple scared to hold hands in public after man assaulted, urinated on them
A lesbian couple have said they are scared to hold hands in public after being punched on a train and urinated on during a homophobic attack.
The perpetrator, Jamie Shaw, 28, was jailed for 28 months following the attack which took place on a train at Manchester Piccadilly Station.
Manchester crown court heard that the couple, both in their 40s, had been left traumatised following the attack.
One of the women was knocked unconscious in the attack, reports the Manchester Evening News.
The court heard that the attack, which took place on 30 January 2016, included Shaw being drunk and making comments about the couple’s sexual orientation.
The couple had boarded the train after a night out in Manchester.
Brett Wilson, prosecuting, said the group Shaw was with asked: “What is it with you lesbians?”
But after the couple responded amicably, the court heard that, without speaking, Shaw proceeded to urinate on the couple.
When they challenged him, the court heard that Shaw punched one of them in the nose and her partner in the eye.
The victim who was knocked unconscious was forced to take time off work following the attack.
A victim impact statement from one of the women said: “I cry in the bath when I’m on my own from my partner. I don’t want to upset her.
“Bruises fade away but mentally it never goes away.
“Every time we used to go out we used to hold hands but now we are worried about the reaction from people.”
Shaw pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm.
Defence barrister Ian Johnstone said Shaw was not homophobic, and that he had been drunk at the time and was not aware of the incident.
Defending, Mr Johnstone said Shaw’s partner had refused in the past to socialise with him if he was drinking because he “turns into a clown”.
But Recorder Mark Ainsworth said, handing down the sentence: “This is Manchester in 2017, and frankly the thought of that being a factor still is quite distressing.”
He added: “These two ladies were minding their own business and doing nobody any harm.
“But they were approached by one of your friends.
“Almost incredulous, they responded in a courteous manner.
“You did not confront them verbally, instead you urinated upon them.
“The fact that someone could do that in those circumstances is frankly almost unbelievable.”
