HOMOPHOBIC gangs are targeting vulnerable men at a known suburban sex beat, threatening them with knives before beating them.
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And there are fears many of the victims have remained quiet because of concerns their behaviour would be uncovered by loved ones.
The Newcastle Herald has learnt that scores of men - some have estimated more than 100 a day - have been flocking to Waratah's Braye Park for casual sex.
But they have been followed by groups of young men keen to assault them in what some victims have described as serious hate crimes.
Gay men who frequent Braye Park have contacted the Herald out of fear of further attacks at the site, which is on a hill overlooking the city.
"I know of one friend who was assaulted by two young men who then stole his mobile phone and car keys before threatening to throw him off the cliff," one man said on condition of anonymity.
"I have been threatened by a guy carrying a samurai sword, others have been bashed just for the sake of it. It is out of control and the police don't seem to want to do anything with it."
Allegations about the recurring attacks come a day after a man was struck with some sort of projectile while he was standing next to his car in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Newcastle City detectives are investigating.
Local area police commander John Gralton said his officers would continue to investigate every complaint made to them.
"It is not something that has been on my radar, but I have been aware of things in the past," Superintendent Gralton said on Thursday. "It is not a problem hot spot that we have identified but in saying that, we will certainly respond to anything that is reported to us."
However, there are fears that most of the crimes are going unreported because the victims are worried their sexual activities might be uncovered by loved ones.
"A lot of these guys are straight, they go home to their wives and girlfriends," a Braye Park user told the Herald. "If they do get beaten up, they are not going to say what really happened to them.
"And that gives these guys who wish to do the gay hate crimes more of a chance of getting away with it."
Source: Newcastle Herald
