18-year-old boy jailed for beating same-sex couple with a wooden plank in violent attack
An 18-year-old boy has been jailed over a shocking unprovoked attack on a lesbian couple.
Tyler Crane of Birchington in Kent targeted the women with a homophobic tirade in Margate on August 6.
The teen and his group followed the women, with Crane shouting anti-gay abuse at them as they walked away.
The attack turned violent as Crane swung a wooden plank packed with nails at the women.
He continued the attack by punching one of the women and dragging her along the ground by her hair.
She sustained bruises and light injuries as a result of the attack.
During the incident Crane also stole the other victim’s bag which contained a mobile phone, bankcard, glasses and other personal items.
Following an investigation by Kent Police, Crane was identified by local officers as being the main suspect, and he was arrested in September.
At Canterbury Crown Court, Crane admitted the charges of the hate crime-aggravated assault by beating, affray, possession of an offensive weapon, and theft.
Crane was sentenced to 18 months in a youth offenders institute when he appeared in court last week.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Steve East said: ‘This was an unprovoked, nasty attack on a couple by someone who was behaving as if he was a big deal, but in reality he just had small-minded, hateful views.
“Hate crimes can be so distressing for the victims so it’s important for our officers to bring the offenders responsible for those crimes to justice, as it sends out a clear message that such behaviour is not acceptable.”
