Mum’s homophobic rant was followed with a slap

A MOTHER-of-two used homophobic phrases to verbally abuse a gay man in a village pub — before slapping him after she was ordered to leave, a court has heard.

Jane Hannah, of Hall Hill Lane, Abbots Bromley, was in the Bagot Arms, in Bagot Street, Abbots Bromley, where she firstly stared at Mark Boston before verbally abusing him, Burton Magistrates’ Court heard.

The court was told how Hannah then sat down with a group of people when she made a string of homophobic remarks including ‘you f*****g queer’ and ‘f*****g puff’ towards Mr Boston.

Emma Thompson, prosecuting, said: “The comments were said to other people but were clearly loud enough for the injured party to hear, and he believes they were clearly directed at him.” Following the verbal abuse, Hannah was asked to leave the pub and on her way out, she slapped Mr Boston on the cheek.

Ms Thompson told the court: “He stated that the injury was painful but it left no lasting mark.” Hannah was arrested and in a subsequent police interview, she accepted that she had slapped Mr Boston —who was known to her — across the face, but claimed she had done so in self -defence.

She denied making any homophobic comments.

Hannah told magistrates: “I didn’t say anything homophobic. I’m not homophobic.” The 44-year-old had denied a charge of assault before the court, but was convicted after a trial on Tuesday, September 22.

She appeared before the bench last week for sentencing.

Magistrates handed Hannah a 12- month community order with an unpaid work requirement of 120 hours, which would have been 100 hours but the court was advised according to legal guidelines a harsher punishment needed to be imposed because of the homophobic comments made.

Presiding magistrate Diane Evans said: “Your unpaid work would have been 100 hours but we’ve had to increase it because of the homophobic comments you’ve made.” Hannah was also ordered to pay £50 compensation and £620 costs.