A man hurled homophobic comments and items including a stiletto, ham sandwich and some compost into a garden where there were guests, Bath magistrates heard.
Bath Magistrates’ Court
Shane Crouch, of St John’s Road in Timsbury, was in court for sentencing having previously admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour, causing harassment, alarm or distress.
The court heard that on the evening of 27th April a man and his wife had a few gay friends over and among the comments Crouch made towards him was “long-haired gay boy”.
With items being thrown into the garden and scared that Crouch’s behaviour may escalate, the police were called.
In a statement, the victim said Crouch’s behaviour had made him angry and had made him realise how his friends had been feeling all their lives.
After Crouch’s guilty plea in August, magistrates had ordered a pre-sentence report.
At the sentencing on Wednesday 1st October, solicitor Ned Kemp, representing Crouch, said the 35-year-old was “very remorseful”.
He said Crouch had been subject to a previous mental health treatment requirement order and had engaged well but that had ended in March and he had reverted to alcohol as a coping mechanism.
Mr Kemp observed: “It sounds like something out of a comic sketch – neighbours arguing, throwing a ham sandwich – but there is something more insidious to this as there is homophobic language.”
The court heard that Crouch, who was diagnosed in January with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), has 24 previous convictions for 61 offences.
Magistrates imposed a one-year community order with a nine-month alcohol treatment requirement and 15 rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR) days.
They fined Crouch £400 and ordered him to pay £200 compensation. He must also pay a £114 surcharge and £85 prosecution costs.
