Fresh appeal over a hate crime investigation in Bristol

The incident happened in Montpelier back in June

CCTV of the man police say they would like to speak to
Author: Oliver MorganPublished 20th Sep 2023

A fresh appeal's been launched over a hate crime investigation in Bristol.

Police have issued CCTV of a man they're looking for following the incident back in July when a man was verbally and physically abused in Montpelier.

Officers have called it a 'vicious and unprovoked attack'.

During the incident, a man in his twenties was subjected to verbal abuse, which included homophobic and transphobic language, before he was then pushed and then punched in the face, while at Turtle Bay in Cheltenham Road.

It happened at about 3.30pm on Saturday 29 July, and he needed hospital treatment for his injuries.

The man in the image which the police have released is described as white, in his late teens or early twenties, about 5ft 10ins, of medium build, with medium-length brown hair which was shaved on the side and longer on the top.

At he time of the incident, officers say he was wearing blue jeans and a black t-shirt.

Investigating officer PC Matthew Lawson said: “This was a vicious and unprovoked assault which, due to the language used by the offender, is being treated as a hate crime.

“This is a worrying incident and we’re ensuring the victim gets any support he may need.

“We want to speak to anyone who recognises the man in the image, or who may have witnessed or even filmed the incident taking place.”

If you can help, you are urged to call police on 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5223182231.

If you are a victim of hate crime, you can report it online.

Victims can report such incidents via True Vision too.

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