MAN ABUSED GAY COUPLE AFTER THEY ACCUSED HIM OF COVID BREACHES
36-year-old ‘angry’ after being reported to police
DRUNKEN yob Alex Johnson shouted homophobic abuse at a couple after banging on their door during the night.
The 36-year-old left victims Jason Smith and Stephen Lanza living in fear following the attack at their Leek home.
Magistrates heard Johnson claimed they had reported him to police for alleged breaches of the Covid-19 restrictions, which had made him angry.
Prosecutor Emma Thompson said: “Just before midnight, the defendant was leaving a property in Sheepmarket and knocked on the back door of the injured parties’ address. They heard a person shouting, ‘Gay ******** ’.
“Mr Smith went to the front of the address because he was so shocked.
“He saw two men with dogs. Johnson placed a crate of beer on the floor and shouted towards Mr Smith.”
The court heard Johnson again used abusive terms referring to the victims’ sexuality, while walking towards Mr Smith.
Johnson, of Belle Vue, Leek, then walked away but was later arrested. He went on to plead guilty to using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress. The offence happened on February 1.
In a statement read in court, Mr Smith said the incident had left the couple feeling ‘violated and extremely angry’.
Kate Preston, mitigating, said: “This defendant has longstanding mental health difficulties. He had formed a support bubble with another single male who lives in a nearby flat.
“Police had attended that friend’s property on four or five occasions about alleged Covid breaches, reported by the two injured parties. When police attended, they were satisfied the defendant and his friend were doing nothing wrong.
“He accepts that, because of these complaints, he felt anger towards the injured parties and he’s taken out that frustration. He would not describe himself as a homophobic person.
“He is keen to let these gentlemen know he was angry on that night, but does not harbour any longstanding ill-feeling towards them.”
Magistrates said the incident was so serious that they required a report from the Probation Service before Johnson is sentenced. The case was adjourned and Johnson will learn his fate on April 24.