Man beaten with belt buckle for 'being gay'

A MAN was attacked by two thugs who lashed out at him with a belt buckle because they suspected he was gay.

The defenceless 21-year-old was walking along Walthamstow High Street alone at 1.30am on Friday, when the attackers pounced.

They taunted the frightened young man, asking "Are you gay?" before punching him in the face.

The victim fell to the floor, and one of the men took off his belt and thrashed him with the buckle.

The man was left with cuts and bruises on his back but did not need hospital treatment.

The attackers were described as black, and aged around 20. One may have had plaits in his hair.

Police are treating it as a homophobic attack and are appealing for witnesses.

A spokesman said: "The victim tried to carry on, ignoring them, but they persisted and he got punched in the face. One of the them then took a belt to him. The attack lasted a minute or two. He's convinced it was a homophobic attack."

There was one witness to the attack, but that person ignored the victim's pleas for help, said the police spokesman.

Police are now checking CCTV in the area for clues to the attackers' identities.

"This is a sad indictment of today's society that because of who he is, the victim has been picked on," said the spokesman.

"It's a totally unprovoked attack purely because of these people's prejudices. They obviously can't come to terms with people being people."

Anyone with information on the attack can ring Leyton police on 8529 8666.

15:30 Thursday 5th September 2002

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