Wayne Evans, 35, of West Street, was convicted of two counts of assault following a trial at Scarborough Magistrates’ Court.

He must carry out 150 hours unpaid work after being given a 12-month community order.

The court heard the 17-year-old victim was with two friends in Bacchus nightclub in Ramshill Road when the attack took place on July 7 last year.

Martin Summers, prosecuting, said the trio had got up to leave and were walking towards the stairs when the teenager was punched in the face by Evans.

The victim said when he got outside the club he again saw the defendant, who began shouting homophobic abuse and other insults in the group’s direction.

Mr Summers said the teenager was struck twice more by Evans before police were called.

After explaining what had happened, the victim was invited to travel around the area with officers in a bid to find Evans and eventually tracked him down to a kebab house in Ramshill Road, where he was arrested.

In a statement the victim said the “disgraceful” assault had affected him emotionally and physically, leaving him scared to leave home.

He added he was not gay and could not understand why Evans could reach that assumption.

Mitigating, Richard North said Evans had shown concern for the victim since his conviction and was determined “not to repeat his mistakes”.

Mr North said: “He has cut down drastically on his drinking, which was part of why he got into trouble, and is in regular employment. He will have learned from this experience and he has taken the necessary steps to stay out of trouble.”

Evans was ordered to pay £300 compensation and £455 court costs.

Tags: gay teen, homophobic