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Gang of youths attack gay man
Kevin Faulkner is nursing a black eye, chipped tooth and bruising to his head after being beaten up in a homophobic attack in Sheffield city centre.
Kevin says his chin and tongue were also split open by a gang of youths who punched and kicked him to the ground on Wellington Street.
The 25-year-old shop assistant, who had his chin glued back together in hospital, told The Star: "I am in a lot of pain and quite shaken up by it all.
"It was an unprovoked attack. The group of lads came up to me and one of them asked me if I was gay.
"He just kept saying, 'Are you gay? Are you gay?' so I said yes.
"I think it is disgusting, and I don't think this would have happened if I wasn't gay."
Kevin, from Wadsley Bridge, had been out drinking with a female colleague when the pair first encountered the gang in a takeaway.
He said: "There was a group of youths in there, about five or six of them, all in their late teens or early 20s.
"They were being really rude to the staff so I told them a 'please' wouldn't go amiss.
"They seemed fine with it and we left to get a taxi.
"Then we saw some of them come running down the street and one of them came up and started asking if I was gay.
"He kept saying it over and over again.
"When I said 'Yes' one of them punched me in the face and pushed me over.
"He kicked me up against the wall and at least three of them started kicking me.
"The next thing I can remember is being inside the ambulance."
Kevin's workmate was also threatened when she tried to intervene. Kevin said three of the men were caught on CCTV and later arrested.
Kevin said: "I was in a good mood and I wasn't being aggressive. There were lots of people around at the time but nobody did anything to stop it.
"If anyone saw what happened I would urge them to come forward."
Sgt Lydia Oakes from South Yorkshire Police said: "We are treating this very seriously and a full investigation is underway into this nasty assault, which appears to have a homophobic element.
"Three men have been arrested in connection with the incident, and have since been released on bail pending further inquiries."
Anyone with information, or who believes they may have witnessed the attack at around 1.30am on Wednesday, January 10, should call PC Nick Parker at West Bar CID on 0114 296 4220 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 111 555.
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