Man set alight in homophobic attack on Teesside

A man has been set on fire in Stockton in an apparent homophobic attack.

The 20-year- old man was left with serious injuries which required skin grafts after his legs were sprayed with an aerosol and then set alight.

At around 3am in the morning on Wednesday 20th July, the victim was walking through the grounds of Holy Trinity Church on Yarm Lane, Stockton, in an area known locally as ‘The Chuggy’.

A group of four men then confronted him and began questioning the victim about his sexual orientation.

The victim ignored them and continued onto Parliament Street - where his legs were set alight.

The group then ran off.

The victim was treated at North Tees University Hospital where he received treatment for his burns

• The man who lit the aersol is described as white
• In his early 20s
• Of medium build
• With short blonde hair
• He was bare chested and wearing jogging bottoms.

Officers are treating this as a homophobic hate crime and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.