London men cleared of stab attack on ‘gay victim’

Two men and two teenage boys have been cleared of stabbing a man they allegedly thought was gay.

The group was accused of attacking Ricky Brown, of Homerton, east London, because they believed he had made advances to young boys after offering them drink or drugs.

Mr Brown, who survived being stabbed 12 times, said he had also been robbed.

After the attack in August last year, police arrested Bradley Goddard, 21, of Keston Road, Tottenham, Emmanuel Nwachukwu, of Station Road, New Barnet, 31, and a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old who cannot be named due to their ages.

The teenagers were arrested close to the scene but denied any involvement in the incident.

Mr Goddard and Mr Nwachukwu said to have been travelling in a car caught on CCTV in the area but Mr Nwachukwu said he had been in the area to buy cannabis with a friend.

All four were acquitted of aggravated burglary and two counts of burglary yesterday at the Old Bailey, the Muswell Hill Journal reports.