Two youths who choked a student and forced him to apologise for being gay in a vile homophobic attack on the Tube have walked free from court.

Will Mayrick, 20, feared for his life and was left struggling to breathe after two attackers placed him in a headlock as he travelled on a train to a fancy dress event at the O2 with four of his friends.

The photography student today said the horrifying ordeal might never have happened if the teenage culprits, who cannot be named because of their age, had taken LGBT education classes at school.

He has called for the Government to make LGBT studies compulsory after his attackers, aged 16 and 17, pleaded guilty to the assault which occurred on a Jubilee line train on October 21 last year.

Mr Mayrick's attackers, from Newham, were handed 12-month referral orders and were each ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge and £150 compensation.

The 17-year-old admitted a public order offence and the 16-year-old pleaded guilty to assault by beating before both were sentenced at Bexley Magistrates’ Court last Friday.

Speaking after his attackers, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were sentenced at a youth court on Friday, he said: “They were so young, and I can’t help but think that if they had had some sort LGBT education then the attack might never have happened.”

Headded: “If it was made compulsory that children were taught about it… they could widen their knowledge and get a better understanding.”

Mr Mayrick, from Clapham, said “more needs to be done” as the attack and similar incidents highlight that young people are still growing up with homophobic views.

He added: “I hope that someone from the Department of Education (DfE) looks in to this… It’s clear that there needs to be a better support network in schools.”

A Government spokeswoman said: “Homophobia has no place whatsoever in society and especially not in our schools. We have given schools £3 million to help them stamp out homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying in the classroom.

“We have made relationships and sex education compulsory in secondary schools and are updating the curriculum to make it fit for the 21st century and include information about LGBT relationships. No one should be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation.”

A report by LGBT charity Stonewall found in 2014 that more than half of secondary school teachers (55 per cent), and four in ten primary school teachers (42 per cent) said they do not challenge homophobic language every time they hear it.

Almost nine in ten secondary school teachers (86 per cent) and almost half of primary school teachers (45 per cent) surveyed said pupils in their schools had experienced homophobic bullying.

A report from the same group last year found that three in four LGBT pupils have never learnt about or discussed bisexuality or gender identity in school.

Mr Mayrick described his “relief” that he finally has closure following the ordeal, but said he was disappointed with the outcome of the sentences.

He said: “I feel like the sentencing was a little on the light side considering what has happened and that they are of the age where they have the full understanding of what they are doing.”

He said he plans to gives the compensation he receives to LGBT charities Diversity Role Models and Just Like Us, which both work to tackle homophobia in schools.

The student, who was 19 when he was attacked, said: “It’s a big relief that this has come to an end, to have closure, as dealing with this since it happened so many months ago hasn’t been pleasant. But now it’s time to turn this negative into a positive, and that’s what I plan to do by raising awareness and donating the compensation to LGBT charities.”

Chief Inspector Chris Casey from British Transport Police, described the attackers’ behaviour as “completely disgraceful”.

Casey added: “They targeted their victims with homophobic abuse and violence, forcing one of them to apologies for being gay. Their attitude and aggression was shocking."

Steve Burton, director of compliance and policing at TfL, said: “Hate crime has absolutely no place in the capital, and public transport is no exception. I hope this sentencing reassures our customers that we, alongside the police, take these crimes extremely seriously.

"Every report is fully investigated and we are determined to completely remove this type of behaviour from our network, and ensure it remains a safe environment for all.”