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| London bus attack: Teens admit threatening women who refused to kiss | London bus attack: Teens admit threatening women who refused to kiss |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Three teenage boys have admitted threatening two women who refused to kiss each other on a bus. | Three teenage boys have admitted threatening two women who refused to kiss each other on a bus. |
| Melania Geymonat, 28, and her date Christine Hannigan were pelted with coins on a Camden night bus on 30 May. | Melania Geymonat, 28, and her date Christine Hannigan were pelted with coins on a Camden night bus on 30 May. |
| The teenagers, aged 15, 16 and 17, had previously denied charges of harassment by using threatening or abusive words or behaviour. | The teenagers, aged 15, 16 and 17, had previously denied charges of harassment by using threatening or abusive words or behaviour. |
| They admitted the public order offences ahead of a scheduled trial at Highbury Corner Youth Court. | They admitted the public order offences ahead of a scheduled trial at Highbury Corner Youth Court. |
| The 17-year-old will appear in court on Friday for a Newton hearing, to decide whether an aggravating factor of homophobia should be considered on sentencing. | The 17-year-old will appear in court on Friday for a Newton hearing, to decide whether an aggravating factor of homophobia should be considered on sentencing. |
| All three boys will be sentenced at the same court on 23 December. | All three boys will be sentenced at the same court on 23 December. |
| Prosecutor Saira Khan said the teenagers each played different roles in the nine-minute incident. | Prosecutor Saira Khan said the teenagers each played different roles in the nine-minute incident. |
| Ms Geymonat and Ms Hannigan were initially sitting alone on the top deck of the N31 bus when they were approached by the group of boys. | Ms Geymonat and Ms Hannigan were initially sitting alone on the top deck of the N31 bus when they were approached by the group of boys. |
| The women were surrounded and sexual gestures were made by the teenagers. | The women were surrounded and sexual gestures were made by the teenagers. |
| CCTV showed a fight breaking out on the bus, with both Ms Geymonat and Ms Hannigan being punched several times. | CCTV showed a fight breaking out on the bus, with both Ms Geymonat and Ms Hannigan being punched several times. |
| The suspects also left with a phone and a bag. | The suspects also left with a phone and a bag. |
| It was alleged the boys threw coins at the women, who were both taken to hospital for treatment to facial injuries. | It was alleged the boys threw coins at the women, who were both taken to hospital for treatment to facial injuries. |
| In addition to the public order offences, a 16-year-old boy also pleaded guilty to handling a stolen mobile phone while a 15-year-old boy admitted handling a stolen bank card. | In addition to the public order offences, a 16-year-old boy also pleaded guilty to handling a stolen mobile phone while a 15-year-old boy admitted handling a stolen bank card. |
| Judge Susan Williams said the abuse "was quite clearly directed towards this couple because of who they are". | Judge Susan Williams said the abuse "was quite clearly directed towards this couple because of who they are". |
| Transport for London's Mandy McGregor said after the hearing: "This sickening incident was utterly unacceptable. Homophobic abuse is a hate crime and won't be tolerated on our network." | Transport for London's Mandy McGregor said after the hearing: "This sickening incident was utterly unacceptable. Homophobic abuse is a hate crime and won't be tolerated on our network." |
| Police said charges were dropped against another 17-year-old boy. | Police said charges were dropped against another 17-year-old boy. |
| Speaking after the attack in May, Ms Hannigan told the BBC she was "not scared to be visibly queer". | Speaking after the attack in May, Ms Hannigan told the BBC she was "not scared to be visibly queer". |
| "If anything, you should do it more," she added. | "If anything, you should do it more," she added. |
| Ms Geymonat, who is a qualified doctor but works for Ryanair as a flight attendant, said she agreed. | |
| Ms Hannigan said: "I was and still am angry. It was scary, but this is not a novel situation." | Ms Hannigan said: "I was and still am angry. It was scary, but this is not a novel situation." |