Man sentenced to 18 months in prison for homophobic attack in Tenerife
A man has been sentenced to 18 months in prison and fined €1,000 after launching a homophobic attack on a same-sex couple in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, verbally abusing them in public before assaulting them with an iron bar.
The sentence was handed down by the Provincial Court of Santa Cruz de Tenerife after the defendant admitted his guilt during the trial. Although the jail term has been suspended for two years, the court ordered him to carry out four months of community service and warned that he will be sent to prison if he reoffends.
Prosecutors said the attack took place in 2023 in the Cuesta Piedra area of the capital and was driven by hatred and discrimination. The defendant was convicted of a hate crime involving an offence against dignity, along with two further offences against moral integrity motivated by homophobia.
According to the prosecution, the man began by publicly humiliating the couple with insults and abuse. When they tried to ignore him and walk away, he escalated the situation by throwing a can of beer at them while continuing to shout slurs. Fearing for their safety, the victims were forced to take shelter in the doorway of a nearby building.
The abuse then turned violent. The attacker allegedly threatened to cut their throats and drive them out of the neighbourhood before producing an iron bar and striking them. Police officers arrived shortly afterwards and arrested him.
One of the victims suffered superficial injuries to his arms, bruising to his right thigh and muscle strain, requiring several days to recover. The other sustained scratches, bruising and swelling to his shoulder and hip, as well as tendonitis. Both men needed medical treatment but were left with no permanent injuries.
In its ruling, the court highlighted the seriousness of the offence, stating that the public insults, aggressive and degrading language, lack of provocation and subsequent physical violence amounted to a grave humiliation that seriously undermined the victims’ dignity.
The court has also upheld a restraining order banning the convicted man from coming within 50 metres of the victims’ home or contacting them in any way. He must immediately move away if he encounters them in public.
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