A care worker has condemned as “pathetic” and “childish” a homophobic attack in which the word gay was scratched on the bonnet of his car.

Philip Charles said he was shocked and upset when he noticed the damage, as he was about to take his disabled mother shopping.

He said he has no idea who was behind it.

The 28-year-old, who describes himself as openly gay, noticed the car had a scratch along the side but at first did not see the word engraved on the front of the car at his home in Wellesley Road Sheerness.

He drove to his mum’s friend’s house and she alerted him to something scrawled on the bonnet.

The incident took place near Mr Charles’ home between 9.30pm on Monday, December 8 and 4pm on Tuesday, December 9.

For full story see this week's Times Guardian