The UK Court of Justice appealed a sentence handed down earlier this year to young people Gage Vye-Parminter, 18, and Matthew Howes, 19, for physically attacking a gay couple in May 2016.
Initially sentenced to five years in a young offenders' institution, UK Attorney General Robert Buckland appealed the decision as "soft". Now, Gage and Matthew have been sentenced to seven years in prison.
"This cruel attack was completely unnecessary, there was no provocation, and it left emotional and physical scars on the victims that will last for a long time.", stated the prosecutor, shortly after the Hearing.
"I hope the Court's decision to impose a longer prison sentence sends a clear message to society that these offenses will not be tolerated.", finished.
READ TOO: Dutch politicians hold hands in support of gay couple attacked in the country
CRIME
In May 2016, the accused physically assaulted dating couple Dain Luka Finney, 22, and James Loxton, 24, after swearing at them because of the victims' sexual orientation. Finney suffered fractures to his nose and almost lost vision in one eye as a result of the violence.
On his Facebook profile, Dain commented on the episode, at the time of the attack: "Two guys decided to shout homophobic words as we walked towards home. We did the sensible thing: we ignored them, but they decided to jump on us and suck our faces", he wrote.
"I don't know who helped us, but thanks to the people who tried to take the guys away from us and called the police. I thought I was very lucky not to have experienced homophobia until now, but if that happens in Brighton it's because people still can't accept others. No one should ever be a victim of discrimination, no matter who they are", he concluded.
