Cornwall man sentenced after homophobic abuse
By Jamie Skey • August 20, 2008 - 14:18
Exert from the Pinknews.co.uk
A man has appeared before Truro magistrates after he attacked a person he thought to be gay.
Max Tiller, 21, from Truro, had been travelling on the St Mawes ferry on 24th July last year when he began making conversation with two men.
After questioning the pair about their sexuality, he rallied them with homophobic abuse, before moving away from them on the ferry.
After the boat arrived at St. Mawes, Tiller ran up behind one of the men and punched him.
He then followed both of them to their hotel while persisting with the abuse.
Tiller was identified on CCTV and by eyewitnesses, and appeared at the magistrates court in Truro on 30th July this year.
He was given a 12-month community order, put under curfew for three months, and ordered to pay compensation of £150, together with costs of £200.
Kevin Sparks, diversity officer for mid-Cornwall, said:
“It is vitally important for victims of homophobic abuse to come forwards and report it; it could help prevent others becoming victims of violent or aggressive people.”
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PinkPasty comment
"Boulloucs & twaddle", the only reason Cornwall police probably responded to this homophobic hate crime was because the victims were tourists.
God forbid that the reputation of Cornwall as one big holiday park be ruined.
There are those of us in the local LGBT polulation who know full well & to our experience and cost that such a positive responce & outcome IS NOT how the Cornwall police deal with hate crime carried out against members of the local LGBT population.
Twenty years I have been a visible out & active gay equality campaigner in Cornwall http://wiki.pinkpaper.com/LGBT%20Activist.ashx but the abuse, hostility & prejudice I have personally experienced from Cornwall police on numerous seperate occassions in the last four years, means I now RECOMMEND gay people in Cornwall DO NOT report a homophobic incident or homophobic hate crime UNLESS they are willing to run the risk of yet further abuse & violation towards them as gay persons from Cornwall police officers.
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