Pensioner jailed for repeated for homophobic abuse of gay neigbours
A pensioner in Plymouth has found himself back behind bars, after breaching the terms of a suspended sentence handed down after he continually hurled abuse at his gay neighbours.
67-year-old Reginald Brayford, of Beaumont Road, St Judes, Plymouth, was imprisoned for 20 weeks by city magistrates in October last year, but successfully appealed, and was instead given a 12-week prison sentence suspended for 2 years.
A restraining order preventing contact with the two men had remained in place.
Having pleaded guilty to breaching the terms of his suspended sentence by contacting the victims, 50 and 70, he was remanded in custody, and was today found guilty of breaching the restraining order, and therefore the suspended sentence.
He was jailed for 14 weeks by Recorder Francis Abbott, who said: “He does not seem to have an insight into how unpleasant his behaviour is… He continues to behave in a way which is almost self-destructive.”
He earlier this month admitted hurling yet more abuse at the victims on 23 June, and said gay people are “taking over the world.”
In previous incidents, the court heard that Brayford had accompanied his insults with an air horn, and had once revved a motorcycle engine. He also said the victim’s dog should be “put down”.
The victims, the court heard, had been left “sick and depressed”, by the prolonged abuse.
The court heard that among other, worse insults, he had told the couple that gay people should be “put down”, reports the Plymouth Herald.
He also previously shouted that gay people had “no right to be in society” and that they should “go back to where they belong”.
