Police are appealing for witness following an incident in Southampton where two women, aged 20 and 23, as well as a 20-year-old male friend had homophobic comments hurled at them and were punched.
Five black men shouted abuse at them and threw a fast food box at the table where the trio sat at Sal’s Kebab Shop in St Mary’s Road just before 3am last Friday (February 15).
The 20-year-old woman was put into a headlock and hit in the face, dislodging a tooth. When the other woman tried to help her friend, she was struck in the face, which caused a nose bleed.
The 20-year-old man was grabbed around the throat and punched in the face by more than one of the offenders.
The suspects fled the scene, and the victims spent several hours at Southampton General Hospital, where their injuries were treated.
The main offender has been described as 24 to 25 years of age, slim and about 6ft tall. He wore a purple top or jacket and a baseball cap. Another was bald, stocky and wore a white top and believed to be in his late twenties.
The third offender was about 19 years old and wore a white top or jacket and a dark baseball cap with red details on it.
The incident happened after the trio had been for a Valentine’s night out at The Edge nightclub.
PC Lauren Dunkason said: “The victims, naturally, are very upset and shaken by this blatant discriminatory attack on them. They are intimidated and drained by the incident.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Dunkason on 101.