Homophobic thug, 32, is jailed after shouting 'you f****** gay boy' in attack on a top headhunter who was walking with his boyfriend

• Sam Martin, 32, and Tom Davies, 27, were holding hands after a night out in Soho
• Ahmed took Mr Martin by the throat and dragged him to the ground, court heard
• Men followed attacker to a pub in Tottenham Court Road where he was arrested

A homophobic thug called the boss of an international headhunting company a 'f****** gay boy' when he was walking home with his partner.

Sam Martin, 32, and Tom Davies, 27, were holding hands after a night out when drunk IT worker Faisal Ahmed, 32, launched a volley of abuse. 

Shocking footage filmed during the attack on Huntley Street in Soho shows Ahmed lashing out at Mr Martin, who was filming.

Gay couple are taunted and attacked for holding hands in public

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Sam Martin, 32, and Tom Davies, 27, were holding hands after a night out when drunk IT worker Faisal Ahmed,(pictured) 32, launched a volley of abuse

A voice can be heard saying 'you're on camera, mate, you're going to have the police coming round right now'. Ahmed replies: 'Go for it'.

Following the assault Ahmed was jailed for ten weeks, with two and a half months more on license.

Mr Martin told The Standard's Hatty Collier the incident had left him feeling 'more vulnerable' but Ahmed's punishment had given him 'confidence in the system'.

In a statement to the court, he added that the incident had made him feel 'shocked and embarrassed'.

Penny Fergusson, prosecuting, told jurors how Ahmed took Mr Martin by the throat, hit him in the back of the neck and put him in a headlock before dragging him to the ground.

The couple followed Ahmed, who had been drinking, to a pub in Tottenham Court Road where he was arrested.

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Following the assault Ahmed was jailed for ten weeks, with two and a half months more on license

Ahmed, of Fitzrovia, told jurors he was so drunk he had no recollection of attacking the couple who have been together for eight months.

District Judge Newton, sentencing, said: 'This was a totally unprovoked assault. You uttered homophobic remarks and I think custody is appropriate.'

As well as the custodial sentence, Ahmed was also told to pay £115 victim surcharge and given a two year restraining order.