London gay youth left permanently paralysed by homophobic attack

By Tony Grew • October 2, 2008 - 19:33

A fifteen year old has appeared in court

38 Comments on London gay youth left permanently paralysed by homophobic attack

A 21-year-old man has been left permanently paralysed from the waist down after he was set upon by a group of youths while he was on his way to a gay bar in east London.

A 15-year-old from East Ham was refused bail in a youth court yesterday.

He has been charged with homophobic aggravated assault with intent, occasioning grievous bodily harm.

The 21-year-old, identified only as "Olly" was set upon by a gang of five youths in Boundary street on August 28th as he walked with a female friend to the popular gay George and Dragon pub in Shoreditch, East London, the court was told.

He was verbally abused, struck on the head with a glass bottle then stabbed seven times in the back and torso.

The young man, "Olly", underwent surgery on his brain and lungs at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel.

The court was told that he was stabbed in his spinal cord and is now permanently paralysed.

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