Below are the notes I made approximately 3 hours after the homophobic attack took place, the events were still very fresh in my mind. It was the police who advised me to make the notes for future reference. I have not altered the notes in any form since making them. Here they are in their raw form.

29th April 2004.

Today around 14:10 I left my property to visit my local bank in the High Street. I was not due to start work until later that evening. I visited the bank wearing a pair of trainers and long cut shorts and a Nike top. I also had an umbrella given the fact it was raining.

I wish to make it clear so there’s no confusion the person to whom I refer below, is a white male who I have seen in the street where I live. I point this out only because the abusive wording used is Jamaican slang it is not a black person, but a white male responsible for the homophobic attacks against me.

I left the bank to make my way home. Outside the County Court a male who was accompanied by a female walked pass me and said “that’s a fucking batty boy” with further remarks which I was unable to hear. I did intend to carry on walking home, but decided to challenge the remarks which were directly made for my ears, there was no one else nearby us.

The reason I decided to speak to the individual was based on the following. On and off over the past year this man (who I now know is Martin) has made a noise and brought flem into his throat/mouth and then splits it out whenever I am just passing. On other occasions I have heard him say “kill the fucking batty boy” or his made other derogatory remarks whenever I pass him. I have always ignored his actions - verbal banter given they were never made directly to my face. However, I believe they were very clearly made for me to hear. When this initially started I found myself indoctrinating myself with the thought that I was being paranoid and over reacting. It unnerved me greatly and certainly did cause me upset. He always carries out some behaviour generally it tends to the flem in his mouth routine and spiting out literally as I took one step pass him.

I have never spoken or said anything to this person in any shape or form. I was asked by the police that initially attended how this man knew I was gay? Had I made eyes at him anytime? I have no idea. I have lived in this street in excess of 11 years and never had any problem with anyone. I walk down the street with my partner of 17 years we have 3 dogs which are walked regularly, maybe he has worked it out. I have never done any activity or behaviour which would say hey I am a gay bloke. I have already stated I have never spoken or had any dealing with the person. I have only ever walked pass him in the street. Has for making eyes at him, nope never have done.

I had visited the bank and was returning home. On the way back I saw an individual standing outside the County Court. I know the guy I’m looking at as the person who has made various comment about batty boys whenever I have been in ear shot. As I walked pass, I heard him say very vocally “that’s a fucking batty boy” with further remarks which I was unable to hear. The remarks were made to a female who was standing beside him. They walked off in one direction me in another.

Having taken a few steps I decided that I had had enough. I turned and followed the couple. I followed them, I was about 10 metres behind them I was unable to speak to the abuser (Martin) being the paving wasn’t wide enough to over take. I presume he was aware I was a few paces behind him, I could hear a muttering aggressively. He entered a newsagent shop. The paving area here is wide. I waited for him to reappear so I could ask him why he had made homophobic comments. He came out the shop and walked off before I had a chance to face him. He turned into a street. Once here he began shouting across the road that I was a fucking batty boy who takes it up the fucking arse and what a dirty cunt I was. I like pushing shit, you batty boy. I was an AIDS bastard. Kill the batty boy. The girl he was with stood there saying or doing nothing. This followed with a multitude of other homophobic abuse. He was very agitated, livid, his body language displayed this beautifully. I can honestly say I was not in a state of anger. I was very upset that this person believed it was Ok to attack and abuse me, today he over stepped the mark.

I shouted back VERY loudly, you’re right I’m gay and not fucking ashamed. So piss off and leave me alone. If you think I am scared of you, you are wrong. I have tolerated your remarks and intimidation for far too long, what’s your problem? What have I ever done to you? At this point he picked up a piece of concrete and told me he would kill me and fucking hurt this batty boy. From the paving he came back and forth to the middle of the road verbally abusing me and displaying a piece of concrete in his hand. Probably bad judgement on my part but I had taken enough abuse of him, I wanted him to see that I was not scared of him. He was nothing more than a big girls blouse and a playground bully thinking he could intimidate me because I had a sexual orientation which he had issues with. I wasn’t angry I was fully in control. I couldn't get across the road quick enough to face him, he done nothing but verbally abuse me and constantly made references to the concrete he was holding and what would happen to me. I basically shouted out to the world I’m gay, so what? I stood in front of him and said come on them hit with the concrete do your worse. He walked away into another street leading into a small park area, shouting intermittently at the top of his voice obscene and abusive remarks about my sexual orientation and what was going to happen to me. I shouted I’m fucking queer so what?

I said to the female with him, you can do better than him. She said “why don’t you leave us alone.” At no time did she abuse or say anything to me. In fact she never said anything. She asked why I had followed them. I explained that over a period of time I have been at the receiving end of homophobic abuse. She made no comment. At this point we arrived in the street we live in. The guy became even more aggressive and abusive. I continued to shout you don’t fucking scare me. He went to attack me, a woman intervened and said come on Martin (I am positive she said Martin) get in. He entered his house; I came home and called the police.

I am unable to put into words the level of aggression displayed towards me. I felt very scared and vulnerable. I do fear for my safely after the events of today. Whilst he carried out his attack people were gathering around. At this point I decided to walk away.

It was very important for me to confront him. He has abused me for a long period of time. His actions and behaviour towards me have slowly been becoming more direct and threatening. Why should I allow myself to be scared and threaten because I am a gay man? It took a great deal of courage to stand up against this person today. Because I am a gay person he believes it’s acceptable to abuse and threaten me with violence or with obtuse remarks. Sorry today was the wrong day. Some may say I made the situation worse by shouting back or approaching him. But where do you draw the line he was becoming more direct and was gaining more confidence in his attacks against me. There comes a point where you have to stand up and challenge an abuser otherwise the abuser becomes even more overt and gain confidence in believing that it’s an acceptable behaviour.