Hospital order for yob who beat up transsexual in homophobic attack

James Freeman, aged 20, and another man, yelled homophobic abuse as they launched the attack on the 16-year-old after spotting him at Fens Pool, off Pensnett Road, in Brierley Hill.

Wolverhampton Crown Court was told that the youth was battered to the ground by a flurry of punches before being hit in the face with a knuckle-duster and another weapon. His facial wounds needed almost 20 stitches.

Mr Robert Cowley, prosecuting, said: "He had been with a friend who had asked him to wait for him at the pool. He saw a group of youths, one of whom indicated that he should go towards them.

"As he began to walk towards them he was set upon by two males, one of whom was the defendant. He received two punches to the head followed by a succession of blows from both men. He fell to the floor and as he got back up he saw one of the defendant take something out of a pocket which was used to hit him in the face.

"He could feel blood running down his face and could not protect himself. He was kicked in the face, head, back and stomach. Both men were shouting insults.

"He was then partially pulled up before being punched in the face with what is thought to have been a knuckle-duster."

The victim was told to empty his rucksack before being allowed to leave. He ran to a nearby house where he was given shelter until police arrived.

Officers took him for a drive around the area where he spotted Freeman who was arrested but denied any involvement, providing an alibi that was destroyed when forensic checks revealed blood matching the DNA of the victim on his jumper. The other man involved in the attack has not been traced.

The beating had profound psychological effect on the teenager leaving him with problems sleeping and destroying his self confidence.

He said in a victim impact statement: "It has had a hugely damaging effect on my personality meaning that I can no longer be myself."

Two psychiatrists agreed that Freeman, from Chapel Street, Pensnett represented a serious risk of harm to the public if he did not receive treatment for mental issues.

He admitted the robbery that took place on April 1 last year and was sent to a secure hospital by Judge Kristina Montgomery QC who said: "You will not be released until you are no longer considered a risk to the public."

She added: "There is no excuse for what you did but there is some explanation and this is a way in which the court may prevent you behaving like it again."