A shocked ice skating coach said him and his boyfriend were targeted in a vicious homophobic attack on a train near Ealing .

Phil Poole said him and his partner, Zbynek Zatloukal, were assaulted by a gang of five who had hurled anti-gay abuse at the couple on board a train into London.

The pair, who have been dating since November last year, had been out for dinner in Reading but fell asleep and missed their stop in Maidenhead on Valentine's Day (February 14).

Mr Zatloukal, from Czech Republic, was awoken by the gang abusing him before he asked: "Please just leave us alone."

Zbynek Zatloukal suffered bruising and now has a swollen eye

But the vicious group began punching him before attacking his boyfriend, who had been sleeping on his shoulder.

Mr Poole, an ice-skating coach and personal trainer from Maidenhead, said: "He (Mr Zatloukal) said 'please just leave us alone' and before we knew it he was punched in the face and had blood everywhere.

"I had woken up and they started punching me in the face, I had not said anything."

The 35-year-old lost two teeth in the attack before putting them in his pocket and staggering over to another seat.

Phil Poole said he lost two teeth in the attack

But the thugs were said to have followed him to the seat and prolonged the attack, and the teeth fell out of his pocket.

To his horror, he then saw the gang kicking Mr Zatloukal, a chef, while he was on the floor.

Witnesses then called the police before the gang ran off at Ealing Broadway station, where the couple got off and were taken to hospital by ambulance.

Mr Poole said he has been left with swelling on both cheeks and cuts on his face, while his partner has a swollen eye and bruising.

Zbynek Zatloukal (left) and boyfriend Phil Poole (right) have been dating since November last year

Mr Poole added: "I have never been punched in the face (before).

"We often travel to London to go out. We are just going to be so frightened coming back at that time of night now.

"He (Mr Zatloukal) works in London and I am going to be frightened for him and he is going to be frightened for me."

The couple said they are due to speak to British Transport Police next week as part of their investigation.

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