Man who launched homophobic attack outside Northamptonshire takeaway restaurant locked up

Robbie Reed knocked food out of the hands of people who were standing near Luvly Jubbly in Rushden High Street in the early hours of July 19 last year.

Northampton Crown Court heard Reed called the men “queer” and “gay bags” and police were called to the scene.

Roxanne Aisthorpe, prosecuting, said officers arrived and Reed continued to make homophobic remarks but the police left after telling the two men the man was “just drunk”.

The court heard one of the men then phoned his mother to come and pick him up and Reed then grabbed his mobile phone, which was worth £700, and smashed it on the ground.

Reed then pushed the man’s head down to the floor and punched him, causing a number of injuries including a broken nose, two black eyes, a chipped tooth and bruising to his arm.

Ms Aisthorpe said the victim also briefly lost consciousness but managed to get away and call 999 from a neighbouring property.

The court heard Reed, who pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage, has 16 convictions for 31 offences, including a number of violent matters including a previous assault near Luvly Jubbly.

Recorder Sally Hancox QC said Reed, of Rushden, had behaved like an “animal”.

She said: “You may think it is funny to randomly hurl abuse at people outside the takeaway but the person who you punched has suffered a great deal as a result of this attack.

“If someone did that to a member of your own family you would think they were an animal and you have the ability to behave like an animal.

“As somebody of your young years you have a troubling lack of ability to control yourself when you are out and about in public.”

Reed was sentenced to eight months in a young offenders institution. He is likely to serve half before being released on licence.