Brutal antisemitic and homophobic Christmas Day attack leaves young couple and friend with cracked bones and nerve damage
A couple and their friend in their twenties have been brutally assaulted by a gang hurling antisemitic and homophobic abuse.
Jayson Homer, 20, and his partner, who wished to remain anonymous, went out for a drink with two friends at the Jolly Farmers pub in Thornaby, North Yorkshire on Christmas Day, when Mr Homer’s partner was identified as Jewish by a group seated near them. The 21-year-old told Gazette Live: “At first a girl in the group started taking the mick out of me for being Jewish. Then another lad from the group came over saying being Jewish was a race. I was disagreeing with him and it was just a little debate really at first. But then the girl started shouting ‘queer’ at me. Every time I went to the toilet someone said it while I was walking past.”
Mr Homer, his partner and their two friends tried to ignore the taunts until the situation became unbearable and they decided to leave. As they left though, a group of approximately fifteen people approached them from behind. They attacked Mr Homer with a bottle in his face, blocking his vision as his eyes filled with blood. They then turned their attention to Mr Homer’s partner, punching and kicking his head and body, leaving him with bruising across his body, a black eye, suspected cracked ribs and a broken nose. He said: “It was calculated, they followed us down with weapons.”
Mr Homer said that the incident has left him “feeling suicidal” and that he has undergone checks for potential brain damage. His partner also requires further checks whilst their friend, Marc Vasey, 21, has been told that he has been left with nerve damage to his cheek
Cleveland Police are investigating the attack and urged anyone with information to call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. The verbal abuse at the pub is believed to have begun at about 20:30 on 25th December at the Jolly Farmers pub on Thornaby Road, and the violent attack outside the pub occurred at about 23:15.