Gay men subjected to sickening homophobic attack after singing songs from Wicked musical
TWO gay men have told how they are scared to walk the streets of Manchester after yobs subjected them to a sickening homophobic attack - for singing songs from the musical Wicked.
Jean Claude Manseau, 25 was left lying on the floor unconscious after a group of young men stamped on his body, while his horrified friend Jack Heaton, 19 looked on helpless.
The brutal attack took place after a man began hurling homophobic taunts at them inclduding 'gayboys', while they recited tunes from the hit musical on a tram journey from Bury to Manchester.
As they got off the tram to meet their friends, the passenger followed them until he called over to 15-strong gang, who crowded round the two friends and began attacking them.
Mr Manseau was knocked unconscious and suffered numerous head injuries in the attack.
While Mr Heaton, a customer service adviser, was punched in the back of the head but managed to escape to a nearby shop to call for help.
Mr Manseau, a retail assistant from Bury, described how the attack had left him "shattered" and too upset to talk about his ordeal.
It has destroyed every bit of confidence I have. It will be a while before I go anywhere on my own. I don’t know when I’ll feel safe to go into Manchester again
He told Manchester Evening News: "It has destroyed every bit of confidence I have.
"It will be a while before I go anywhere on my own. I don’t know when I’ll feel safe to go into Manchester again.
"They split my forehead, my lip, broke my nose. My eyes are black and swollen. My ribs are painful, I can’t move much. My face is going to be scarred for life. That has upset me."
Mr Manseau says he cannot remember anything from the moment the gang of 15 men approached him.
However his friend Mr Heaton from Radcliffe, told how he saw the group stamping on his friend while he was lying on the ground.
Mr Heaton said it was "completely shocking."
He said: "It was terrifying. They crowded round us and it probably only last a few seconds but it felt like a lifetime.
"It’s completely shocking. Nowadays you think people are mostly accepting of people’s sexuality, especially in a big city like Manchester. We did nothing to provoke it. We were just having a laugh and a sing on the tram.
"It was definitely homophobic. Throughout it all they were hurling abuse at us.
"I don’t feel safe now. You feel like you can’t be who you actually are when there are people like this walking the streets."
A passer-by phoned police, who attended the scene shortly after the incident, in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The pair were forced to travel to the hospital by taxi when an ambulance had not arrived around 90 minutes after being called.
Manchester Police has confirmed they are investigating the incident.
The man on the tram is described as slim, white, in his early 20s, with very short hair and scruffy clothes.
He was with a woman who is described as slim, with long dark hair, also in her 20s.
Police said the group of men, who attacked the pair, were described as black or mixed race.
Anyone with information are urged to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
