Jail sentence after Brighton man knocked unconscious in homophobic attack

Wednesday, 18 August 2021 15:09

A Surrey man has been jailed for a homophobic attack in Brighton that left his victim unconscious in the street.

Aaron Rhoods, 25, of Waterden Road in Guildford, was jailed for five years at Lewes Crown Court on Wednesday (August 11) after being found guilty of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

The successful conviction concludes a complex process stretching back to the early hours of Sunday, October 14, 2018.

Rhoods was one of a group of several men who began hurling homophobic abuse at a man in Kings Road, Brighton, at around 3.30am.

The group cornered and assaulted their victim, who was 32 years old at the time, hitting him over the head with a bottle and causing him to lose consciousness.

He was only resuscitated when paramedics arrived and his attackers had left the area.

Rhoods and an accomplice, 22-year-old Celso Dias of Disraeli Road, Wandsworth, were detained an hour later after being found trying car door handles in John Street.

Both men matched descriptions of the attackers given by witnesses and they were subsequently arrested and charged with wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

Rhoods was found guilty on June 2, 2021, after a number of court hearings over two years.

He was also ordered to pay a £170 victim surcharge in addition to his custodial sentence.

Dias was given a supervision order for two years.

Investigating officer PC Russell Smith said: "Brighton and Hove is a wonderful, vibrant city thanks in no small part to the incredible diversity and inclusivity of its residents.

"These convictions shows that despicable hate crimes such as this will not be tolerated and perpetrators will be brought to justice.

"We will continue working to show that violence and hate is not welcome in our city and that Brighton and Hove is a safe place for everybody to enjoy."

More from Sussex News

LOCAL ELECTIONS 2024: Results

All the information you need to know as the Local Election and Police and Crime Commissioner results come in for the South Coast.
VIDEO: Aerial footage shows full extent of mass ‘rave’

Anyone planning to attend or organise an unlicensed music event this summer can expect to face the full force of the law.
UPDATE: Lightning strikes across the South Coast

West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service have had a busy night dealing with lightning strikes
Four men taking on World’s Toughest Row benefit from university sports expertise

The rowing team from Lessons from a Boat visited the University of Chichester’s Sport Performance and Rehabilitation Unit (SPRU) recently to gain valuable insights into their physiological profiling ahead of their grueling race across the Atlantic.
Local Elections: Voting begins across the South Coast

The polls have opened across the South Coast for the local elections.
CCTV images released following theft of gold chain in Havant

Police in Havant are seeking the whereabouts of a man who contacted an online seller on Middle Park Way to purchase an expensive gold chain.
Man handed criminal behaviour order for shoplifting in West Sussex

A shoplifter has been handed a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) for his prolific offending in Crawley.
Witness appeal following suspicious incidents in Arundel

Police are appealing for information following a series of linked incidents in Arundel.
Billingshurst train track reopened after major incident

A railway line in Billingshurst blocked after a train struck part of a level crossing has reopened.
MP for East Worthing and Shoreham will continue fighting for human rights

The Conservative MP for East Worthing and Shoreham says he will continue to use his platform to raise awareness of human rights, despite being deported from Djibouti.