Three charged over alleged hate crime in Maidenhead

Four women were attacked earlier this year

Author: Jonathan RichardsPublished 16th Aug 2023

Three men have been charged in connection with an an alleged homophobic attack in Maidenhead.

Lia Vaisanen and Riley Moore, both aged 18 and of Ellington Park, Maidenhead, and Rhys Cox, aged 18, of Mulberry Walk, Maidenhead, were all charged on 4 August with three counts of assault by beating and one count each of assaulting a person thereby occasioning them actual bodily harm and using threatening words/behaviour intending to stir up religious/sexual orientation hatred.

Vaisanen was also charged with one count each of criminal damage to property valued under £5,000 and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

The charges relate to four women being assaulted in an alleged homophobic incident at the junction of Queens Street and Broadway at around 1am on 5 February.

All of the victims suffered bruising and swelling, two were concussed and one was knocked unconscious.

All required further treatment at hospital but have since been discharged.

All three men were released on bail and are due to appear at Slough Magistrates’ Court on 5 September.

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