Three Teens Admit Guilty to Brutal Homophobic Attack on London Bus
Three yob teens have pleaded guilty to carrying out a shocking homophobic attack on the N31 bus in London. The trio, aged 15 and 16, appeared at Highbury Magistrates’ Court today following a hate crime incident against two women back in May.
Brutal Assault on Night Bus
In the early hours of Thursday, 30 May, two women in their 20s boarded the N31 bus at West Hampstead. While sitting on the top deck, a group of teenage boys hurled vile homophobic insults and made lewd gestures.
A violent fight erupted. Both victims were punched multiple times, suffering facial injuries. The attackers also stole a phone and a bag. London Ambulance Service rushed the victims to hospital for treatment.
Teens Face Serious Charges
- A 16-year-old admitted handling stolen goods (a phone) and two Public Order Act offences.
- Another 16-year-old pleaded guilty to aggravated hate crime under section 4a of the Public Order Act.
- A 15-year-old admitted handling stolen goods (a bank card) and two aggravated hate crime offences.
Sentencing is set for Monday, 23 December. A further court hearing is scheduled tomorrow for one defendant.
Police and TfL Condemn Hate Crime
“No one should ever be victimised because of their sexuality and I hope this result brings closure to the victims,” said Detective Constable Darren Barlow, of the Met’s Roads and Transport Command.
Detective Superintendent Andy Cox added: “Hate crime on London’s transport or anywhere in London absolutely will not be tolerated. Our officers will always investigate fully, and we urge victims to come forward.”
Mandy McGregor, Head of Transport Policing at TfL, blasted the attack as “utterly unacceptable”. She stressed: “All customers have the right to travel without fear of abuse. We hope this case reminds everyone to accept others for who they are.”
Met Police Vow to Crack Down on Hate Crimes
“London is a diverse and tolerant city,” said Detective Superintendent Waheed Khan, lead for Hate Crime. “The Met does not tolerate any form of discrimination. We’re committed to tackling hate crimes robustly and urge victims to report incidents.”
The five suspects were arrested in early June on suspicion of robbery and grievous bodily harm. Four were charged in July and appeared in court in August. The latest guilty pleas mark a critical step towards justice for the victims.
