A man left with permanent scarring after a homophobic attack in Manchester's Gay Village has expressed dismay after police closed the investigation. Jack Francis, 35, from Deeside, North Wales, sustained black eyes, a broken rib, broken nose, broken finger, and a permanent facial scar following an assault at a bar on Canal Street in the early hours of May 16.
Attack Details
Jack said he was socialising with a friend when a man directed a homophobic slur at him. After he challenged the slur, two men pushed and punched him repeatedly. He recalled being punched in the face and fighting back before noticing blood 'pouring' from his nose. The attack left him with a misaligned septum and a permanent scar.
“I entered the venue with a friend to enjoy the end of our evening,” he said. “As the night was coming to a close, I walked past two heterosexual men inside the venue when homophobic slurs were shouted at me. I challenged them about what had been said. One of the men immediately pushed me backwards. As I regained my balance, one of the men attacked me, and the second man then joined in the assault.”
Investigation Closed
Police launched an investigation but later closed the case. The Manchester Evening News reported that the attackers could not be identified from CCTV footage. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) did not comment on the CCTV specifics but stated they “actively pursued all lines of enquiry.” Jack was informed the investigation was closed due to “no further lines of enquiry.”
“The incident was reported to the police and investigated. Despite CCTV being reviewed, I have been informed that the investigation has been closed because the attackers could not be identified from the available footage,” Jack said. “While I understand the limitations of the evidence, it is incredibly disappointing that those responsible have not been identified or held accountable.”
Impact on Health and Safety Concerns
Jack said the attack took a “considerable toll” on his mental health. He was unable to carry out normal activities for weeks due to pain from his broken rib. He also raised concerns about safety in the Gay Village, historically a refuge for LGBTQ+ people. His case follows a similar incident involving Lewis Bell, who was beaten after a night out in the same area; that case was also closed due to poor CCTV evidence. GMP apologised for delays in gathering footage in Bell's case.
“For me, this is about far more than one assault,” Jack added. “It is about the growing concern that LGBTQ+ people no longer feel as safe in spaces that have historically been places of refuge for our community. Where are LGBTQ+ people supposed to feel safe if they cannot feel safe in spaces created specifically for them?”
Police Response
Superintendent Nicola Williams of GMP said: “We treat reports of this kind with the utmost seriousness and do not tolerate hateful behaviour towards any of our communities. We have actively pursued all lines of enquiry in this case and would like to reassure our communities that we will always review crimes to ensure we have done everything in our power to ensure that anyone who commits a criminal offence faces justice.” She added that GMP works with LGBTQ+ communities via its Pride network and City Neighbourhood Teams, and encourages victims to report crimes through police, Crimestoppers, or the LGBT Foundation.
