GARETH: I FORGIVE MY HATE ATTACKER

Gay sporting icon targeted TOM’S FOOTIE DREAM

A SPORTING legend has refused to prosecute a teenager who attacked him because he is gay.

Instead, Wales rugby hero Gareth Thomas met the 16-year-old boy who admitted the hate crime.

And the lad yesterday apologised to Thomas, the ex-British Lion turned pundit and reality TV star.

Police confirmed the teen’s assault was a “hate crime” and that Gareth, 44, agreed to meet his attacker as part of a restorative justice scheme.

Positive

In an emotional video on Twitter he said: “I want to be positive. I thought they could learn more that way.”

Gareth, who played in 100 Test matches and is his nation’s second highest try scorer, came out in 2009 and has campaigned for LGBT rights.

He was set on in The Hayes – a wellknown Cardiff shopping street – at 9pm on Friday. In the video he appears to have cuts to his forehead and cheek with bruising near an eye.

Gareth said: “I was the victim in my home city of a hate crime for my sexuality.

“I want to say thank you to the police who were involved... and to the people of Cardiff who supported me and helped me because there’s a lot of people out there who want to hurt us.

“Unfortunately for them, there’s a lot more who want to help us heal. So this, I hope, is a positive message.”

Ex-Wales goalkeeper Neville Southall said: “Sorry it happened but there are thousands who support you. Love that you concentrate on positives.”

The Star Says: Page 6 TOM Daley and his husband want to have 11 children so they can start their own football team.

The Olympic diver and husband Dustin Lance Black say they have been bowled over by the public reaction since they became dads.

The pair welcomed their first child Robert Ray’s birth in June – and now want to dive straight back in and make up the numbers for their squad.

Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin admitted: “I would like enough to create our own 11-a-side football team.”

Robert Ray was born to a surrogate mother after the pair sought advice from gay dads Sir Elton John and David Furnish. Dustin said: “We reached out to them early on. They had some good advice. We adore them.” PLUNGE: Daley