A gay couple were branded ‘queers' and spat and clawed at during an unprovoked attack in a pub in Essex.
Marcus Taylor and his partner Nate Harlan were drinking with friends in the garden of the Purple Dog in Colchester when a man in the beer garden began abusing them.
The man started calling them ‘p****,’ ‘queers’ and ‘snowflakes’ as he quizzed the couple about their sexuality.
The men also had a pint of beer thrown over them as another man and woman joined in with the abuse, which soon turned violent.
Marcus was clawed and kicked and Nate also suffered a suspected fractured wrist.
Marcus, 33, a project manager from Braintree, was shocked at the vile abuse they received when they were just trying to enjoy a night out.
He said: "They were going for about ten minutes when the woman spat - that's when it got violent.
"She clawed at my neck and ripped my top off and snapped off my watch.
"One of the men then grabbed hold of me and pushed me against the fence "I fell down and I was pushed between two picnic tables and forced down and kicked.
"The other male was hitting my partner."
Marcus and Nate tried to defend themselves during the shocking attack on Saturday.
He added: "We are not the type you would assume are gay.
"Can you image if it was someone less able to defend themselves?
"It shouldn't be happening in this day and age."
Pub staff escorted the trio who had attacked the couple out and a police officer arrived to take details.
The couple went to Colchester General Hospital's accident and emergency department after fearing Nate's wrist could be fractured.
Shocked Marcus posted details of what happened on Facebook .
He said someone at the hospital had read the post and discreetly told them the alleged female attacker had also just arrived at A&E with injuries.
Marcus immediately dialled 999 but the suspect had left by the time officers arrived.
An Essex Police spokesman said: "We were called with reports two people had been assaulted and subjected to homophobic abuse on Saturday at 8.40pm.
"Our nearest officer, a PCSO [police community support officer] who was patrolling nearby, attended the scene shortly after the assault being reported.
"The suspects had left the scene. Further PCSOs were deployed to help with enquiries.
"We received a call at 5pm on Monday with reports one of the people involved had been seen at Colchester Hospital.
"We attended the hospital a short time later, but the suspect had left."
Anyone with information can call PC Darin Patrick of Essex Police on 101 quoting reference 42/98408/19.
