Vegas
10-03-2007, 12:16 PM
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=485404&in_page_id=1770
Four firefighters were reprimanded and heavily fined after disturbing an illegal outdoor gay sex romp - because the men accused them of being homophobic.
The crew was travelling past a notorious common popular with gay men and "doggers" when they shone their torches from the engine into bushes.
It is claimed they interrupted four men involved in a gay sex act.
One man later contacted AIDS charity the Terrence Higgins Trust, which advised him to launch a formal complaint.
The firefighters were suspended on full pay during a three-month investigation. Two were fined up to £1,000, one was demoted in rank and the other given a written warning.
They have all been ordered to attend an equality course and the fines will be donated to the a nominated gay-rights charity.
One being mooted is the Jamaican Forum for Lesbians All-Sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG) although no final decision has been made.
Bristol has a large Jamaican community.
The four-man crew has also been transferred to other stations.
It is claimed the complainant had been pleasuring himself in front a group of three men when they were disturbed.
He is now said to be "happy" at the outcome of the disciplinary action but will not face a police investigation into what he and the other men were doing in the area.
The firefighters were charged with bringing their service into disrepute and with the misuse of fire equipment as their actions were deemed homophobic.
The firemen - formerly members of Avon Fire Service's Blue Watch at Avonmouth station in Bristol - stumbled upon the session near Circular Road on the Downs in Bristol.
Four firefighters were reprimanded and heavily fined after disturbing an illegal outdoor gay sex romp - because the men accused them of being homophobic.
The crew was travelling past a notorious common popular with gay men and "doggers" when they shone their torches from the engine into bushes.
It is claimed they interrupted four men involved in a gay sex act.
One man later contacted AIDS charity the Terrence Higgins Trust, which advised him to launch a formal complaint.
The firefighters were suspended on full pay during a three-month investigation. Two were fined up to £1,000, one was demoted in rank and the other given a written warning.
They have all been ordered to attend an equality course and the fines will be donated to the a nominated gay-rights charity.
One being mooted is the Jamaican Forum for Lesbians All-Sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG) although no final decision has been made.
Bristol has a large Jamaican community.
The four-man crew has also been transferred to other stations.
It is claimed the complainant had been pleasuring himself in front a group of three men when they were disturbed.
He is now said to be "happy" at the outcome of the disciplinary action but will not face a police investigation into what he and the other men were doing in the area.
The firefighters were charged with bringing their service into disrepute and with the misuse of fire equipment as their actions were deemed homophobic.
The firemen - formerly members of Avon Fire Service's Blue Watch at Avonmouth station in Bristol - stumbled upon the session near Circular Road on the Downs in Bristol.