Lancaster girl arrested after hate crime attack on transgender teen and friends in Williamson Park

Police are appealing for witnesses after a group of friends were subjected to transgender abuse and attacked by a gang of teenagers in the park last weekend.

Just before 9.50pm on October 24, a group of friends were in Williamson Park when they were subjected to verbal abuse and one of them was subjected to transgender abuse.

As the four friends walked away towards Wyresdale Road, one of them – a man in his 20s – was viciously hit in the back of the head.

One of his friends – a teenage girl ­- was then pulled to the ground by her hair and kicked at before she managed to run away.

As the friends escaped from the park and onto Wyresdale Road, they were chased and verbally abused by the gang.

One of the friends, a teenage girl, said she was going to call the police, but the gang reacted angrily and tried to smack the girl’s phone out of her hand.

She was then pulled to the floor in the middle of the road by the hair and attacked.

She managed to get up and make it to safety inside her friend's car. Her friend then drove himself to hospital where he received treatment for a significant head injury which required six stitches.

His teenage friend was not seriously injured but she was left visibly shaken by the ordeal.

A 17-year-old girl from Lancaster has been arrested on suspicion of GBH, ABH and common assault.

She has since been released under investigation.

This is what Lancashire Police say

Lancashire Police said it is treating this incident as a hate crime.

A hate crime is classed as any crime committed that is believed to be based on someone's race, ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability.

Officers are also appealing for witnesses and are also keen to hear from anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage from the surrounding areas.

DC Nikki Marshall, from Lancaster Police, said: "This was a particularly nasty and shocking incident which has left one man with a serious head injury and two women badly shaken.

"I would like to make it clear that we do not tolerate any form of abuse and will work tirelessly to bring all the offenders involved to justice.

"Everyone has the right to live free from fear of abuse. Abusing someone simply because of who they are is unacceptable and we understand that this incident will have caused the public a great deal of concern.

"With this in mind, reassurance patrols have been increased in the area.

"I would ask anybody with any information or CCTV or dashcam footage that would assist us with our enquiries to get in contact with us."

Anybody with information can email 6746@lancashire.pnn.police.uk or call police on 101, quoting log 1426 of October 24, 2020. Alternatively call independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

If you have been the victim of a crime, Lancashire Victim Services can support you. Call 0300 323 0085, chat online or visit www.lancashirevictimservices.org.

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