Ex-public school girl jailed for homophobic hate crime

An ex-beauty therapy student was jailed for seven years yesterday after being found guilty for the death of Ian Baynham, aged 62, following hostility towards him and his male friend based on their sexual orientation.

Ruby Thomas, then 17, instigated the crime, shouting “f***ing faggot” at Baynham and his male friend as they were getting off a bus on Trafalgar Square, Central London. The co-accused, Joel Alexander, 20, punched Baynham, then Thomas repeatedly kicked him and stamped on his face while he lay on the ground unconscious.

Baynham lay in a coma for 18 days until he died at the Whitechapel hospital in East London.

Thomas, who attended the £12,000-a-year Sydenham High School for Girls, bragged about the killing hours later on Facebook.

Thomas was sentenced 6 years for manslaughter, plus an additional year on account of the homophobic motive. Alexander received 6 years for manslaughter.

After describing the killing as a case of “mindless, drink-fuelled violence”, Judge Richard Hawkins said: “You have a previous conviction for what is described as drunken loutish behaviour and demonstrated hostility to Ian Baynham based on his sexual orientation or presumed sexual orientation.”

The pair, both from Upperwood, south-east London, were convicted last month.

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