Men admit homophobic attack on Glasgow gay couple

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A gay couple were left badly injured after a vicious homophobic attack in Glasgow.

Two men have admitted to carrying out a vicious homophobic attack on a gay couple in Glasgow city centre.

Calvin McLelland, 20, and James Knots, 16, have admitted to assault aggravated by prejudice over sexual orientation on Dillon Jeffreys, 25, and his partner, Connor Sullivan, 19, in August 2013. The sentence was deferred.

According to the BBC, the couple were making their way home just after midnight on 17 August 2013 when they ran into a group of people that included McLelland and Knots.

They were both asked if they were gay to which they replied “yes” and were then called “faggot” by a member of the group. McLelland then punched Jeffreys and knocked him to the ground, Glasgow Sheriff Court heard. Sullivan tried to intervene and was also punched to the ground.

McLelland and Knots then kicked Jeffreys on the head and body. Two plain clothes police officers were nearby and saw the incident.

Both Jeffreys and Sullivan were injured. Jeffreys was sick and dizzy and was later found to be suffering from a skull fracture, Sullivan suffered bruising.

McLelland and Knots both admitted to the attack. They pleaded guilty to assaulting the couple and both charges were aggravated by prejudice relating to sexual orientation.

Sheriff Sam Cathcart deferred sentence on both men until next month and continued their bail.