This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/merseyside/8326810.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Homophobic attack on trainee Pc | Homophobic attack on trainee Pc |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A gang of up to 20 youths attacked an off-duty trainee police officer outside a gay bar in Liverpool city centre. | A gang of up to 20 youths attacked an off-duty trainee police officer outside a gay bar in Liverpool city centre. |
| James Parkes, 22, who is training with the Merseyside force, was out with friends when he was set upon by the gang on Stanley Street on Sunday night. | James Parkes, 22, who is training with the Merseyside force, was out with friends when he was set upon by the gang on Stanley Street on Sunday night. |
| Four boys from the Kirkdale area, one aged 17, two aged 15 and one 14, have been arrested on suspicion of assault. | Four boys from the Kirkdale area, one aged 17, two aged 15 and one 14, have been arrested on suspicion of assault. |
| Mr Parkes is in hospital with multiple skull fractures and fractures of his eye-socket and cheek bone. | Mr Parkes is in hospital with multiple skull fractures and fractures of his eye-socket and cheek bone. |
| He was leaving Superstar Boudoir, one the city's well-known gay bars, when he was attacked. | He was leaving Superstar Boudoir, one the city's well-known gay bars, when he was attacked. |
| 'Openly gay' | 'Openly gay' |
| His condition was described as "very critical". | His condition was described as "very critical". |
| A spokesman for Merseyside Police said: "The officer, who is openly gay, was with his partner, another man and a woman when the incident took place. | |
| "From the language used by the offenders towards the officer we perceive it was a homophobic attack." | "From the language used by the offenders towards the officer we perceive it was a homophobic attack." |
| One of Mr Parkes' companions was punched in the face. | One of Mr Parkes' companions was punched in the face. |
| Mr Parkes was a police community support officer earlier this year. | |
| He began his initial 31 weeks training in May and is due to pass out in early 2010. | He began his initial 31 weeks training in May and is due to pass out in early 2010. |
| High visibility patrols have been stepped up in the area and CCTV footage of the scene is being reviewed. | High visibility patrols have been stepped up in the area and CCTV footage of the scene is being reviewed. |
| Det Ch Insp Tim Keelan, leading the investigation, said: "Help us to catch those responsible for this despicable crime. | Det Ch Insp Tim Keelan, leading the investigation, said: "Help us to catch those responsible for this despicable crime. |
| "We are treating the assault as a homophobic hate crime and this incident shows there are still some people who have not learnt that crimes of this type are completely unacceptable." | "We are treating the assault as a homophobic hate crime and this incident shows there are still some people who have not learnt that crimes of this type are completely unacceptable." |
| Stanley Street has been cordoned off while officers carry out forensic examinations. | Stanley Street has been cordoned off while officers carry out forensic examinations. |