FOUR schoolboys have appeared before a court and admitted harassing a gay couple in a store.

The gang, who cannot be named because of their ages, abused the couple,

from Bromley for about half an hour as they went shopping at Marks & Spencer in High Street, Beckenham.

One of the victims stumbled over a shop display while being pursued by a youth, Bromley Youth Court heard.

A 14-year-old confronted one of the men, saying: "Go on, let me hit you. I really want to hit you."

The group shouted homophobic abuse at the couple, including the words 'batty boy', 'queers' and other swear words, prosecutor Toyin Kuti told the court.

She said: "This was clearly homophobic."

The teenagers pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour contrary to section five of the Public Order Act while a further charge of intending to cause the victims harassment, alarm or distress was dropped.

Laura Belcher, defending a 15-year-old boy from Beckenham, said he knew he had been very immature and very stupid.

She said: "He wishes me to apologise to the court and pass on his apologies to the victims."

Chair of the bench, Ann Mowat, said: "It was a sustained attack of a very nasty nature."

A 16-year-old from Beckenham was given a referral order for six months. The 15-year-old from Beckenham was given a conditional discharge for 12 months.

Both can be re-sentenced for the offence if they commit another during those periods.

The 14-year-old, from Forest Hill, south east London, will be sentenced later this month and a 15-year-old from Shortlands will be sentenced early next month pending reports.

* A 15-year-old boy from Downham is due to stand trial at Bromley Youth Court in April charged under the Public Order Act.