By Steph Johnson

Last updated at 10:48, Saturday, 29 January 2011

Two men from Carlisle have been fined for publicly harassing two transsexuals in the street.

Wayne Blair and Stephen Currie, both 22, appeared before the city magistrates’ court.

They admitted using threatening or abusive words likely to cause alarm or distress.

The court heard that Blair and Currie had tormented and threatened Simone Armstrong and Kim Oakland – who are both currently going through gender reassignment treatment.

Prosecutor Becky McGregor said that the men knew Simone from their schooldays.

When they spotted her on the Rosehill Industrial Estate last July they decided to launch a verbal attack.

The pair hung their heads out of the car they were travelling in and started shouting abuse, including a string of homophobic insults.

At one point Currie, of Warrell Drive, Harraby, shouted at Simone: “No wonder your mum doesn’t love you.”

Blair, of Ennerdale Avenue, Botcherby, threatened to give the women a ‘welting’.

Currie’s solicitor, Martin McAllister, admitted that his client was guilty of ‘silly behaviour’ which was upsetting for the victims.

Blair’s solicitor, Graham O’Sullivan, agreed that it had been a regrettable incident. But he insisted that it was an isolated one.

The magistrates said there were several aggravating features to the case.

The victims were vulnerable and the abuse was unprovoked, sexually orientated and took place in public.

Blair and Currie were told: “This was one of the nastier types of harassment and because of this we have decided to fine you as much as we possibly can.”

They were each given an £85 fine with £75 costs and told to pay a £15 victim surcharge.

The men were also put on a 12-month restraining order which bans them from contacting, or interfering in any way, with Simone and Kim.

First published at 09:09, Saturday, 29 January 2011
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk