Victim of brutal homophobic pink tutu attack tells other gay youngsters 'keep your chin-up'

A young man has spoken out after he was brutally assaulted in a homophobic attack on Halloween.

The men, thought to have been dressed in pink fairy costumes, are said to have run away when passersby intervened. A second victim, 18, sustained facial injuries in the attack in the early hours of Saturday, November 1. Retail worker Mr Kingsford said today he had been overwhelmed by the generosity of commenters online and in his home town.

Mr Kingsford, who said he was bullied when he was younger, also gave encouragement to other gay young people who may have been suffered abuse. Mr Kingsford's father, Brian, 51, a caretaker for Kingston Council, praised police for their investigation.

In the wake of the attack Mr Kingsford set up a Facebook page, Red Alert, for members of the community to share information and appeals for help. It gained hundreds of members within a few days.

Two 26-year-old men have been arrested on suspicion of common assault and inflicting grievous bodily harm. They have been bailed to return to a west London police station in mid-December.

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