A couple beaten up by homophobic yobs have told of their terror.

Tim Evemy and his partner were set upon as they walked home following an afternoon spent on Brighton beach.

He said: "I was so frightened. I could not see what was happening or where I was going.

"I didn't know what was happening to my partner.

"As it turned out he was being punched in the head. It was completely unprovoked."

The men say they are too scared to go outside and have been kept awake following the attack near their home early on Tuesday evening.

advertisementThey were approached by a young male in Richmond Avenue, who started to push and verbally abuse them.

He was soon joined by a second youth, who repeatedly punched Mr Evemy's partner in the head, leaving him with impaired vision and severe bruising. Mr Evemy was forced to listen to his partner being attacked.

The 33-year-old described how his assailant hurled homophobic abuse before grabbing his glasses and attacking him.

He said: "I couldn't even make out what he was saying.

"It was just blind rage - full of anger and hate.

"It feels terrible to be attacked just for who you are.

"In a way I wish they'd taken our money so there would be another reason beside homophobia.

"I was bullied and abused at school and this has brought all those fearful memories tumbling back.

"It's certainly very scary to think there's someone like that out there."

The pair managed to run to a nearby shop and alert the police.

Officers are trawling CCTV footage of the area in a bid to catch the two offenders.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "We are following up a number of lines of inquiry including a possible witness sighting. This was a seemingly unprovoked attack."

Mr Evemy said he had been so traumatised by his ordeal that he will quit Brighton for good.

He said: "I used to love the vibe here.

I thought it was safe, and somewhere where I could be myself.

"But it's changed. The people have become more aggressive.

"I never thought I'd be attacked here. We're both devastated.

"Homophobia isn't something I've ever come across here before, but I want to warn people what's out there."


Courtesy of the The Argus