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A lesbian has been left traumatised after being punched in the head from behind and thrown to the ground - all for being gay.

Charlie Graham was left battered and covered in blood after the terrifying and cowardly attack by two homophobic thugs.

Police are treating the beating as a hate crime, Daily Star Online reports, and 20-year-old Charlie wants everyone to see her shocking injuries in a bid to track down her attacker.

Charlie said: "I got hit from behind by a fist to the back of my head, then I hit the ground, hurting my legs and face.

"I tried to get back up, but they pushed me back to the ground and the two guys ran off.

"I was left bleeding and scared."

(Image: Charlie Graham/Facebook)

Charlie was walking to meet a friend in the Town End Farm area of Sunderland at 12.50am on Saturday morning when she was struck from behind without warning.

She has been left traumatised, suffering panic attacks and headaches and is too scared to leave the house following the attack - which she says is the fifth time she has been targeted for her sexuality.

In one previous assault her eye was split open, requiring stitches. In another she was given a black eye.

She recalls an occasion when she was walking down the road with a girlfriends. A stranger approached them, shouted "dyke" and then punched her.

She believes she will be attacked again - but next time it could be much worse.

(Image: Facebook)

"It has knocked my confidence back," said Charlie.

"I don't go anywhere by myself anymore. I only feel comfortable at my mum's house.

"I have panic attacks and anxiety attacks just thinking about going home in case they find out where I live and decide to come through the door, or I get attacked in my own home.

"I have had people threatening to come through my door and smash the windows in."

Charlie, who says she "acts like a boy", has accepted homophobia as a fact of life.

(Image: Facebook)

She said: "I think you should be able to be proud of who you are.

"It makes me feel I have got to stay in the house and hide who I am and everything but in this day and age I shouldn't have to do that. It should be accepted.

"I've tried not to let it beat me up and get on with my life, but I do worry if it happens again that it is worse than it was before.

"It did scare me, but I thought 'it's just one of those things... it's happened again. What am I supposed to do about it?

"It happens everywhere. It's my bad luck.

"I do look like a boy and I do act like a boy and there is no femininity about me at all. But I am not aggressive, or rowdy and I don't pick fights. I have never opened my mouth to anybody."

(Image: Charlie Graham/Facebook)

Charlie's aunt, Natalie Singh, 28, helped clean her up after the latest attack.

She said: "Charlie FaceTimed us and when we saw the state of her face we rushed over to her.

"She was dazed and her eyes were rolling into the back of her head and had a bit of concussion from where she fell."

Mum Michelle Storey, 47, says her daughter is a frequent victim of homophobic abuse.

"Me and Charlotte laugh about the verbal abuse but when she is out on her own it must be really hard," she said.

"At the end of the day if you are gay, straight ,or whatever colour you are, what does it matter?

(Image: Charlie Graham/Facebook)

"Charlotte's always dressed the way she did and I have always allowed that because she is my daughter and it doesn't matter to me as long as she is happy and is loved."

Despite her ordeal, Charlie was determined to show her horrible injuries to the world, to make people aware of what gay people still face in 2020 Britain.

She added: "[It is] very important to me for my pictures to be shared, so people are aware there are people out there that will attack you for what ever reason they feel is necessary - whether that is your sexuality, colour of your skin, the way you walk or how you dress.

"It was very painful and I'm still in a lot of pain now having to take regular pain relief."

(Image: Charlie Graham/Facebook)

Detectives have confirmed they are treating the incident as a hate crime.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: Northumbria Police spokesperson said: "Shortly before 1am on Saturday (January 11), we received a report of an assault on Blackwood Road, Sunderland.

"It was reported that a woman was walking when she was attacked by two males who subjected her to homophobic language and caused injuries to her face, hands and knees.

"An investigation has been launched into the incident and officers are currently treating the assault as a suspected hate crime.

"Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting reference 46 110120 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."