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A star of the reality show Drag Queens of London has told today how thugs tried to throw him over a railway bridge in a homophobic attack.

Soho resident Lloyd Dixon, whose stage name is Lady Lloyd, recounted his experience of violence as figures show such attacks are on the rise. According to Met Police, there were nearly 1,700 recorded homophobic attacks in London in the last year, a rise of more than five per cent on the previous year.

Episode four of Drag Queens of London, broadcast on London Live tonight, examines homophobia, prejudice and violence against transgender people.

Mr Dixon, 28, said: “I was on my way to see my best friend perform at G-A-Y. I went to catch a late train from Stansted Mountfitchet.

“These three guys with hoodies up ran across the tracks to confront me on the bridge. They were shouting ‘faggot’. Suddenly they were punching my face, picking me up and shaking me — I felt like a rag doll.

“They tried to throw me over the bridge but luckily it was too high. I’m a strong character now but then I was skinny. It was three against one. They stole my money and my phone. There were a few people on the station but not one helped.” Mr Dixon ran for the train, where a passenger helped him as he walked through the carriages dazed, wounded and in tears. By the time he arrived at Liverpool Street his face was swollen and streaming with blood.

He said: “I made a police statement and was taken to hospital for stitches. My mum was horrified.”

Mr Dixon was not in drag at the time of the attack in 2001, but said he was bullied at school about his sexuality.

No one was ever prosecuted for the attack. Mr Dixon said: “There’s CCTV on the bridge but I was told they were switched off or missing that night. I knew who one of them was, but the other two I never found out. I have a scar on my cheek and hand. I certainly gained in confidence and I think I have a strong core and belief in myself.”

Episode four of Drag Queens of London is broadcast tonight at 10pm on London Live