Teenager who abused lesbian couple on bus ordered to attend ‘diversity sessions’

Course set to include discussions on hate crime and minority groups’

A teenager who made homophobic gestures at a same-sex couple on a London bus has been ordered to complete diversity sessions.

Highbury Corner Youth Court heard the 15-year-old made “degrading gestures”, referencing the sex act of scissoring, towards the pair.

Melania Geymonat and Christine Hannigan were subjected to homophobic slurs and gestures by a group of teenagers while on a date on 30 May.

Travelling on the top deck of the N31 bus in north London, three teenagers aged 15, 16 and 17 surrounded the two women and began asking them intrusive questions such as: “How do you have sex?”

Ms Hannigan, who is bisexual, previously explained in court that references to the sex act of scissoring are often used to taunt women in same-sex relationships or is seen as a “fetish”.

The court also heard the 15-year-old handed the eldest teenager coins which he then pelted at the couple, prompting a scuffle between Ms Hannigan and one of the teenagers.

All three admitted using threatening or abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress against the two women shortly before trial.

Appearing in court on Monday, the 15-year-old was given a youth referral order of eight months, increased from six due to the homophobic nature of the incident.

A second charge of handling stolen goods, related to Ms Geymonat’s bank card, was included in the sentence.

Josef Rybacki, mitigating, said: “We have heard a description of the offences, it is clearly a case of immaturity and stupidity rather than hostility.

“He has accepted the events in full without a basis of plea.”

When asked how his actions may have hurt the two women, the 15-year-old replied: “I feel sorry for the victims, it didn’t have to escalate like that.”

District Judge Nicholas Rimmer said: “The court very strongly disapproves of the sort of behaviour you exhibited on 30 May.

“They were in a relationship, they were happy, they were simply enjoying the pleasures of life and being in love.

“They were met with disgusting and degrading behaviour and you should feel thoroughly ashamed of your conduct.”

He added the two women were “intimidated and degraded” by the 15-year-old.

The eight-month referral order will feature work on hate crime and relationships with peers, the magistrate added.

“This will include diversity sessions which will make you think about hate crime, the protected characteristics and minority groups,” Mr Rimmer added.

The teenager was also sentenced to a 10-day activity requirement which includes 20 hours of community reparation.

He will also be banned from having any contact with the two other teenagers for four months and ordered to pay a £20 surcharge.

The 16-year-old in the group was also handed a youth referral order earlier this week and fined £100 with a £20 surcharge.

The 17-year-old had already been given a youth rehabilitation and supervision order.

Additional reporting by agencies