A 16-year-old boy was beaten by his parents and his elder brother after coming out as gay, a court has heard.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court was told how his parents told him he "could be changed" and enlisted the help of his older brother.

In a victim impact statement the boy, who is of South Asian heritage and cannot be identified for legal reasons, but is from Blackburn, said he was scared for his life at the time of the incidents.

He feared his family would continue to use violence towards him if he hadn’t moved away from the area, the court was told.

He said he was disappointed because he believed he could have a good relationship with his parents despite coming out.

“At the time he told his mum he was scared, but she ignored him,” said Saleema Chaudhry, prosecuting.

“He said he is not sure his parents knew what they were doing was wrong.

“He was sad about what happened, but is happy he has now been accepted for what he is.”

Miss Chaudhry said the boy was now in foster care in a different area. Charges of making threats to kill against his parents had been withdrawn on a previous occasion.

However, the prosecution maintained the remaining offences were both homophobic and represented an honour crime.

Aftab Bakhat, defending the parents, said the physical injuries had been slight and the real harm had been psychological.

“What is clear from the pre-sentence reports is that they both have entrenched views which need to be tackled,” said Mr Bakhat.

“Their son has come out as gay and they have reacted in a horrible, nasty and violent way which is going to psychologically scar their own son.”

Peter King, defending the brother, said he had a responsibility of loyalty towards his parents but also, as the oldest child, a responsibility to look after his siblings.

“Unfortunately his parents drew on him to try and make the other boy see things their way,” said Mr King.

“On the day he chose to support his parents, not because he thought his brother was adopting the wrong way forward, but out of loyalty."

District Judge Alex Boyd said the offences of assault were aggravated by the hostility towards their son and brother because of his sexual orientation.

“He has to move away from his family and friends and is now restarting his life in the care system,” said District Judge Boyd.

“He is doing well despite your actions and the position you placed him in.”

All three, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, pleaded guilty to assaulting the boy and were made subject to a community order for 12 months.

The father was ordered to complete 30 days of rehabilitation activity requirements and 200 hours unpaid work.

The mother was ordered to do 20 days of rehabilitation activity requirements and 200 hours unpaid work, and the brother was ordered to complete 20 days of rehabilitation activity requirements and 80 hours unpaid work.

They were each ordered to pay a £114 victim surcharge and £100 costs, and they were all made subject to a restraining order which prohibits them from having any contact with the victim for 18 months.

The defendants cannot be named because that would identify the boy, who is protected by a court order.