Hunt for five men after gay hate assault

Police are hunting five men in connection with an attack in Walsall. The victim was left with a swollen eye after he was attacked by them outside a bar.

The gang approached the victim when he was with a group of friends in the Lion Bar and Club in Reedswood, but when he did not want to get involved speaking to them he walked away and out of the bar.

Click on the image on the right to see more pictures of the men police would like to speak to.

One of the thugs made a homophobic comment before the group punched him repeatedly, knocking him to the ground before kicking him in the head. Officers have released CCTV images of the men they would like to speak to in relation to the assault at the bar in Birchills Street.

The thugs left the 20-year-old man lying in the street before they ran off in the direction of Reedswood. CCTV cameras caught images of the people suspected of being involved, and police are hoping stills of the footage will help prompt the public to help with the investigation.

Spokesman for West Midlands Police Lee Page said: "This was a particularly nasty attack which was unprovoked. Violence of any kind will not be tolerated, but the homophobic nature of this assault makes it an especially nasty assault and we would like to speak to any witnesses who may know the people involved or have any information on the attack."

One of the suspects is white, about 25, 5ft 9ins tall, slim and blond. He was wearing a dark jacket at the time of the attack.

The second is white, about 30, 5ft 9ins tall, slim and with brown hair.

Anyone who recognises the men from the pictures, which were captured around the time of the assault at 2.30am on November 26, is asked to call Leamore police on the new non-emergency number 101.