Gay couple’s meet the parents dinner ends in ‘completely unprovoked and nasty’ assault by stranger
Philip Sexton was caught on camera attacking a family and a waiter who tried to intervene. (LeedsLive)
A gay couple and one of their mothers were the victims of a brutal attack during a meet the parents birthday dinner.
Philip Sexton admitted four counts of assault after he was caught on CCTV berating the couple before launching himself at one of their mothers.
The men were celebrating one of their 22nd birthday, and were introducing their parents to each other for the first time at a Gino D’Acampo restaurant in Leeds city centre.
During the evening they went outside for a cigarette with one of their mothers, Sarah Liversidge, when Sexton confronted them.
Woman punched and dragged by hair after defending gay couple.
Shocking footage shows Sexton pushing Liversidge out of the way before punching one of the men.
Seconds later he was confronted again by a woman who worked as a waiter at the restaurant, who he punched and dragged by the hair.
Ross Liversidge, Sarah’s husband, said that the incident was “completely unprovoked and nasty”.
“It really shocked us, they were just stood there chatting and having a cigarette,” he told LeedsLive.
“He pushed my wife out of the way, and then went for the boys.
He also hit the waitress with a haymaker when she intervened. Her nose was bruised and her face was covered in blood, but she was still giving him some stick.
Ross Liversidge said that the assault had a “huge effect” on the family, who are from Worcestershire, and had left the couple “nervous about going out”.
“We are not from Leeds and will never return,” he said.
“We were there to celebrate one of the boys’ birthdays and meet his parents for the first time.
“What should have been a really happy event ended in violence and upset.”
Sexton pleaded guilty to four counts of assault by beating and was handed a 12 month community order.
He was also instructed to carry out 100 hours of community service.
