A MAN hurled homophobic abuse and attacked an event-goer at Bournemouth Pride, a court heard.

Ivan Browne, 26 and of Ballam Grove in Poole, spat on the man, stamped on his hand and fractured his leg during the assault.

Prosecutor, Ben Thompson, told Bournemouth Crown Court on August 30 that the victim had attended Bournemouth Pride with his boyfriend and was leaving the event when Browne approached him.

It was said that at Meyrick Park at around 10.30pm on July 9, 2022, the victim shouted towards his partner who was walking in the wrong direction, when the defendant approached him.

Browne yelled “you queer ****” before grabbing the victim’s t-shirt and pulling him, making him fall into a bush of nettles.

The man, who has a previous leg injury, felt his knee pop out of place as the defendant continued to pull and punch him.

The man’s partner pushed the defendant to the floor where he continued to kick at the victim.

A member of the public intervened after the victim began punching back in self-defence.

However, after being pulled off the defendant and laying on the floor, Browne spat at the man and stamped on his hand.

The victim fled to a nearby football club and police were called to the scene.

An x-ray revealed a fracture to the man’s hand and a later MRI showed a hairline fracture to his leg, as well as bruising to his ribs.

Browne has three previous convictions for three offences.

In a victim impact statement, the man said the attack has had a “significant impact” on him and has left him scared to go outside, especially at pride events.

He said he was “never bother by his sexuality” but is now too afraid to hold his partner’s hand in public.

The man said he was “paralysed by fear” after a “stranger emerged from the darkness,” and that the world now feels less safe.

Mitigating, Amber Athill, said the assault was “entirely out of character”.

She added: “He is not homophobic, his uncle is gay and he did not target the victim because of his sexuality but because he was drunk and angry and looking for trouble.”  

Ms Athill said three months prior the defendant lost his grandfather, who was a father figure to him, and he turned to alcohol to cope.

Judge Robert Pawson said the assault was “disgraceful” and the phrase “******* gays” was used at the end.

“Your mother tried to hold you back but you were hellbent on violence.”

For inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent, Browne was handed a deferred sentence until February 28.

Judge Pawson said he will suspend his sentence if he stops smoking cannabis, does not reoffend, stays in employment and saves £2500 in compensation.

“The ball is in your court.”