MEMBERS of Thanet's gay community are being urged to be extra vigilant following the murder of a 30-year-old homosexual.

Two men have begun life sentences for battering Lee Harvey to death. One of the killers, 26-year-old Mark Honan, used a gay telephone chatline to trick Mr Harvey into a meeting.

Honan also tricked his co-defendant, Gary Crewe, into being present, a court heard. Mr Harvey was viciously attacked by both men and died from multiple injuries.

Now both homosexuals - and heterosexuals - have been warned by gay support workers and police to take extra care when arranging to meet strangers.

Peter Jemmett, gay liaison worker for East Kent Community NHS Trust said: “The recent case has highlighted a new risk, not only to the gay community but to anyone using Internet chat rooms to meet strangers.

“The proliferation of chat rooms on the Internet means that the medium can easily be utilised by seriously homophobic individuals, or groups, who may feel the need to vent their prejudice in an abusive or violent manner.

“In Lee Harvey’s case, the attackers had groomed their victim by using Internet and text facilities to establish a “relationship” which succeeded in lulling the victim into a sense of false security.

“This meant that, when a meeting was finally arranged, the victim had already let his guard down, and was more vulnerable to attack.”

Both Mr Jemmett and Thanet Police Minorities liaison officer PC John Piears say the message is clear - be aware of the danger in accessing chat rooms.

PC Piears stressed: “It is important to remember that on the Internet and in text messages, people can claim to be anyone they want to be. Even adverts in gay publications cannot be trusted."

Mr Jemmett, who works with gay people throughout East Kent, has offered some tips for helping to secure personal safety:

* Obtain as much information about the chat room operators and the individuals you meet on the Internet.

* If you do arrange to meet, ensure it is in a public place - and stay in that public place until you feel it is safe to move on.

* Let a friend know what you have arranged and set check times for contacting them after the meeting. Better still, take a friend with you if this is at all practicable.

* Consider investing in a personal alarm, and take it with you as a strategy for frightening off a potential abuser should the need arise.

Mr Jemmett added: "New technology means there are new and cynical opportunities for predatory individuals to abuse the trust of genuine users of chat rooms. Be aware, and ensure you are not another statistic of violent crime.”