Bus attack boy’s penalty is increased

Victims: Women after attack ONE of the boys who harassed a same-sex couple on a night bus after they refused to kiss has had his sentence increased because of the ‘homophobic’ nature of the incident.

Melania Geymonat and Christine Hannigan were surrounded by three boys aged 15, 1 and 17 on the N31 bus in north London on May 30. CCTV shows the women being hit with coins.

At Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court yesterday the 1 -year-old was given an eight-month youth referral order, increased from six months. He was also fined £100. The youth, who cannot be named due to his age, admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.

Andrew Mooney, mitigating, said he had not thrown coins or made homophobic gestures like his co-defendants. But magistrates increased his sentence due to the homophobic nature of the incident in general.