Student Escapes Prosecution Over 'Gay Horse' Remarks

An final-year Oxford University student from Belfast who called a mounted policeman’s horse gay will not be prosecuted, it was announced today.
Police stood by their decision to take Sam Brown (aged 21) to court for making “homophobic comments” after the Crown Prosecution Service today dropped the case.
Mr Brown approached the officer during a night out with friends in Oxford after his final exams, and said: “Excuse me, do you realise your horse is gay?”
Moments later, two Thames Valley Police squad cars appeared in the High Street and Mr Brown was arrested under section five of the Public Order Act for making homophobic remarks.
His remarks were deemed likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
Mr Brown, an English Literature graduate, then at Oxford’s Balliol College, spent the night of May 30 last year in the cells.
He refused to pay an £80 (€117.10) fine, so police took the case to court.
But at Oxford Magisrates’ Court today it emerged the Crown Prosecution Service had chosen to discontinue the case.
Prosecutor Cariad Eveson-Webb said: “The police issued a summons but the CPS have decided they do not wish to proceed.
“In their opinion there is not enough evidence to prove it [Mr Brown’s behaviour] was disorderly.”
Thames Valley Police today defended their decision to take the case to court.
A spokesman said: “We present the case to the CPS and the CPS make the decision to proceed or not.
“He made homophobic comments that were deemed offensive to people passing by.”
He denied the police were heavy-handed, and claimed that Mr Brown was drunk and that he had made repeated comments about the horse being gay, despite requests from the officers to desist.
Matthew Williams (aged 21), a friend of Mr Brown, witnessed events last May.
He said Mr Brown jokingly approached one of two mounted policemen saying: “Excuse me, do you realise your horse is gay?”
Mr Brown then repeated: “Your horse is gay,“ he said.
Mr Williams, a fellow Oxford English Literature graduate, said the officer called for back-up and two squad cars appeared. Mr Brown was then arrested and taken to the station.
“Sam’s comments were said in jest. It was very clear that they were not homophobic,” he added.
from Ireland On-Line