Appeal after couple subjected to abuse at motorway services

Police are appealing for help in identifying a man and a woman who abused a couple in a suspected hate crime at a motorway service station.

Officers received a report that a couple had stopped at Gloucester Services, between junctions 12 and 11 on the M5 northbound.

While sitting by the pond area, they had challenged a woman whose child was throwing stones at the ducks.

The woman then used homophobic language towards the two victims, before heading into the services.

She returned with a man who threatened violence to the couple before throwing food into the face of one of the victims.

The incident happened at around 3.45pm on Sunday 30 June.

Officers have been attempting to trace the offenders and are now asking the public for any information which may help.

They are described as being white with the woman having blonde hair, of average height and tanned. She was wearing a white summer dress and sunglasses.

The man was described as tall and bald, and was wearing a dark striped t-shirt.

They were with three children and spoke with Australian accents.

Following the incident, they drove off in a Silver Tesla and it is believed that the offenders are from the Hereford area.

Anybody with information is asked to contact Gloucestershire Constabulary through the website, quoting incident 257 of 30 June: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us/us/a-crime-that-has-already-been-reported/

The Force has dedicated police and victim support hate crime coordinators who work in partnership with a strategic hate crime partnership to tackle hate.

If you have been affected by hate crime, you can contact the local victim care team in Gloucestershire on 0808 281 0112 or you can contact them online: https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/