A MUM says she feels ‘sick to the core’ after a suspected homophobic attack on her son and his partner.

The mum, who doesn’t want to be named, claims her 21-year-old son and his partner, 17, were attacked. She claims the pair were approached by three men in Worcester Road, Malvern Link, and were asked if they sold drugs and could lend them a mobile phone. The men jokingly bantered about their sexuality, but soon became verbally abusive after the pair were unable to help.

The mum, aged 45, alleges they walked away, however, were followed by the men, adding: “They became so abusive verbally and were threatening to kill them that they decided to walk into the road to stop traffic in the hope that the men would walk away.”

After a desperate plea screaming to leave them alone, her son was knocked unconscious and received multiple injuries and cuts to his face and body. His partner was left with a broken jaw, cuts to his face and severe bruising from head to toe. Both men were taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

The mum said: “My son’s soul has been shredded. He feels guilty for being the way he is and sorry for the men that hurt him and his partner because if he hadn’t of been himself this wouldn’t have happened. I feel sick to the core and just wish for people’s right to express themselves for who they are without the fear of becoming a target of hate.

“My lad and partner had done nothing to provoke these cruel individuals, they begged for them to go away and leave them alone. This trauma will be with us for many years to come.” She added: “I’d just like the third guy to come forward and hand himself in. I’d like closure to such hate and cruelty inflicted on my son and his partner. They were looking forward to the gay pride event to end a beautiful summer and it all ended in turmoil.”

The son added: “Advice from others has been to continue being myself and I’ll do so with pride as will my partner. Heart goes out to those who raised me and were always accepting me for who I am and to the schools that taught me how to play nice. Peace always.”

The assault happened on September 20 at around 6.45pm. A 19-year-old and 18-year-old man from Worcester were both arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH). Police have confirmed a third man was involved in an incident prior to the GBH however is not believed to have been present for the assault itself. They have both been released on police bail with conditions not to enter Malvern. Police are treating the incident as a possible homophobic assault. Anyone who witnessed the incident can call 101 and quote incident 667s of 20 September 2019.