A gay woman was brutally attacked in a hate crime.
As reported in the Manchester Evening News, Hayley Smith, suffered a double fracture of her jaw when she was assaulted while a walking her dog, Milo, in Eccles. She was on Brookhouse Avenue, in Peel Green, at about 5pm on March 17th, when the incident took place.
Hayley was left unconscious, and was found by a paramedic who was by chance dealing with another incident in the area. She believes she was attacked purely because she is gay.
GMP only sent an officer to see her five days after the attack, and only when she had contacted the MEN . The force has since apologised for the delay.
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Detective Inspector Steven Hughes, from Salford CID, said: "This was a unprovoked and particularly vicious attack on a victim who was walking her dog in broad daylight. The comments made by a man clearly point to underlying homophobic reasons behind the assault.
"We want to reassure the public that we're dealing with the investigation with the utmost importance and vigour.."
Hayley told the Manchester Evening News this week: "So I am 32, a prison officer, and so am not really frightened by much. I was at the opposite side of the road, walking my dog Milo who is a little mix breed rescue from Bosnia. He got excited to go and say hello to the the dog across the street. The man he had like a Staffy or pit bull looking thing.
"The man shouted over, and I thought he said 'do you want to come over and say hello' so I walked over. The man kicked Milo in the face, but Milo didn't react. So I questioned the man, asking why he would do that to my dog.
"He said 'to shut it up'. I told him he was out of order and why would he kick my dog to which then he told me 'shut up you dyke' I was like what is your problem? He said that his head has gone and I needed to 'shut my mouth you man wanna be dyke'.
"So I walked away and I also took a picture of the man, which I have told the police I have. I was angry and called him a rat. He then said "I will show you a real man you dyke'. Then I felt almighty pain in the right side of my face, and then I was woken up by the paramedic. I went to Trafford General at 6pm and was then sent to MRI as they didn't know if I needed surgery. I was then admitted after waiting seven hours for a bed as I was told I needed surgery."
Hayley will be off work for three months and cannot eat solid food for six to eight weeks. "I'm afraid to walk to the dog alone, afraid for my fiance, Chloe, and our five-year-old son to be walking out with the dog. I am going to be losing a good easy £600 a month in income. My work HMP Hindley have been incredibly supportive. But it doesn't make me feel any safer."
Anyone with information should call 0161 856 9403 or 0161 856 5235 quoting incident 2293 of 17/03/2022. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
