Police officers bitten, spat at and called homophobic slurs in shocking violent assault
The attack took place in Bradford in the early hours of 17 September 2017
A former care worker has admitted to assault on an emergency worker after an attack that saw them hurl homophobic slurs.
Kelly Imeson of Hollycarrside, Sunderland pleaded guilty over the July 25 attack on two police officers at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court last week.
The Sunderland Echo reports that she was accused of kicking and spitting at the officers during the incident after officers were called to her home.
She shouted homophobic slurs at one of the officers and continued her abuse after arriving at the police station, according to the newspaper.
In a victim impact statement read out in court, the officer said: “I am proud to be a police constable and I know that there is a high risk that comes with the job but that doesn’t give anyone the right to assault me.
“The language used towards me was abhorrent and hurtful.”
The woman barraged officers with homophobic slurs
The second officer added: “The worst kind of assault is spitting, especially during a global pandemic. The incident caused me to stress about contracting the virus and passing it onto my family.”
The case was adjourned until October 22 for sentencing.
Anti-LGBT crimes are on the rise.
Reports of anti-LGBT+ crimes have rocketed in the last five years in England and Wales, with a 25 per cent year-on-year rise in hate crimes based on sexual orientation, according to the most recent data released in October 2019.
Earlier this year, Sunderland’s LGBT+ community was rocked by a shocking violent homophobic attack.
Charlie Graham was left shaken after two men battered her in the head from behind and threw her to the ground in the incident in January.
The victim explained that this incident was the fifth time she has been targeted for her sexuality.
“I think you should be able to be proud of who you are,” Graham said, describing how after repeated assaults, she has accepted homophobia as a fact of her life.
“It makes me feel I have got to stay in the house and hide who I am and everything but in this day and age I shouldn’t have to do that. It should be accepted.
“I’ve tried not to let it beat me up and get on with my life, but I do worry if it happens again that it is worse than it was before.”
