A Tipton man charged over shocking homophobic assault in Birmingham

A Tipton man has been charged over the brutal homophobic attack in Birmingham’s Gay Village in which a student was smashed over the head with a glass bottle and struck with a pole.

Usman Murtza, from Tipton, was charged for the horrific and unprovoked attack on John-Paul Kesseler and another man as they walked together in Horse Fair in the early hours of 10 October.

Mr Kesseler was hit in the face with a glass bottle, leaving him with a nasty gash above one eye, before both men were struck with a pole.

The vicious attack took place in the early hours of Sunday 10 October as the victim, John-Paul Kesseler, was walking in Holloway Circus. The assault left him with a gashed head.

Police launched an investigation, describing the violent assault as “abhorrent”, revealing the 38-year-old victim had been struck with a glass bottle and whacked with a pole.

Kesseler, from Moseley, said he was targeted by a homophobic thug for “holding hands with another man” while walking along Holloway Circus in the early hours of the morning on his way back to a hotel after a night out in the city.

Kesseler said: “We had all been to the Gay Village and were walking towards Holloway Circus. I was going to a hotel with a close friend and we were holding hands, walking towards the Pagoda.

“Outside the 24 hours shop, there was a bloke standing outside his car and he noticed us. He said we shouldn’t be holding hands.

“He started getting aggressive and reached into his car for an empty wine bottle. I didn’t notice him coming and the next thing I knew, I felt bashed round my head. I felt I was bleeding, I could feel blood dripping down my clothes.

“I immediately called the police and the bloke went into his car and grabbed a pole. He started coming at me with this pole.”

The callous attacker jumped into his car after the appalling hate crime and fled the scene.

As he waited bleeding by the roadside for the police to arrive the victim stated he received homophobic insults from passers-by who said: “”We don’t agree with that LGBTQ stuff.”

Mr Kesseler was later taken to to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment by an ambulance crew.

Police arrested and charged Usman Murtza, 29, for the crime. Murtza has been charged with two counts of assault, plus possessing an offensive weapon, and is due to appear at Birmingham Magistrates Court on 12 January.

A police spokesperson said: “No-one should have to tolerate hate abuse or hate crimes.

“If you’ve been a victim then we’d urge you to contact us or a support agency so you can get help and we can investigate.”