Hartlepool mosque graffiti trio sentenced

Two men who carried out a graffiti attack on a Teesside mosque have each been sentenced a year in prison.

Anthony Smith, 24, and Steven Vasey, 32, of County Durham, had previously admitted conspiracy to commit racially-aggravated criminal damage.

Charlotte Davies, 19, of Buckinghamshire, who also pleaded guilty to the same charge, was given a 12-week suspended sentence.

They attacked the Nasir Mosque, Hartlepool, in November last year.

Smith, of Neptune Way, Easington Colliery, and Vasey, of Prior's Grange, High Pittington, pleaded guilty during a hearing at Durham Crown Court in August.

Davies, of Irving Path, Aylesbury, admitted the charge earlier.

BBC News

BNP Organiser guilty of racial abuse on Asian woman

A British National Party organiser has narrowly escaped jail for racially abusing an Asian woman in a supermarket.

Peter King told stunned Sajida Islam "go back to your own country" when he saw her in the aisles of Hartlepool's Tesco Extra store, in Burn Road. He followed with a tirade of racist abuse. In another unrelated incident he threatened a student with a medieval weapon in another outburst.

John Gillette, prosecuting at Teesside Crown Court, said: "He just passed an Asian lady in an aisle in the store and said 'get home to your own country'. It was just abuse out of nowhere, and left the victim upset. She contacted store security who in turn brought in police. Although the incident was not caught on CCTV he was seen leaving the store and was identified from that."

The incident happened on October 14 last year.

King, who the BNP's own website describes as regional organiser, was arrested again on Christmas Eve. Police were called following a row with his neighbour, 20-year-old student Nicholas Thompson, who he confronted with an ornamental mace for revving his mini-moto bike.

Mr Gillette said: "There had been an argument over some noise from a vehicle exhaust being revved and he went and got what is described as an ornamental medieval mace. The weapon had a wooden handle with a chain and a couple of metal balls."

King, 38, was at risk of going to jail after he admitted racially aggravated harassment and possessing an offensive weapon. However, he walked out of court after he was given a suspended prison term.

Nigel Herrmann, mitigating, said King, of Bluebell Way, Hartlepool, had experienced personal problems in the last year. He added there had been no further incidents since.

Judge Peter Bowers sentenced King to 10 months prison suspended for 18 months with supervision. He warned King to curb his temper in future. King was accompanied at court by Cheryl Dunn, who unsuccessfully ran for the BNP in the Hartlepool mayoral election and also in the Easington parliamentary election

Hartlepool Mail

BPP man guilty of racial abuse

A self-confessed racist distributed offensive posters - including one of a burning cross - in an area where many Asians live

John Steven Stead, 32, was spotted putting the stickers on lampposts in the Murray Street area of Hartlepool, a court heard. The posters, from the British People's Party, carried messages such as "Rights For Whites" and "Immigration - Open Your Eyes". Another had images from the war and said: "They did not die for a multi-racial Britain." One sticker depicted a burning cross.

Town man Stead stood trial at Hartlepool Magistrates Court yesterday after pleading not guilty to racially aggravated behaviour and a public order offence. But he admitted he was a racist and said he had concerns about "multi-culturalism" in Britain.

The court heard that on the evening of December 1 last year, Javeed Rasul had been in Murray Street and spotted Stead putting the stickers on lampposts and called the police.

Mr Rasul told the court: "It was disturbing. It's the 21st Century now and I didn't think we would have that in Hartlepool. I could not sleep that night thinking about it. It's hatred. My two uncles died in the war fighting for England."

Stead, who was wearing camouflaged clothes on the night in question, was later arrested and in police interview said causing distress was the last thing on his mind.

Lynne Roberts-Plowman, prosecuting, said: "Mr Stead said he had put the stickers up with the sole purpose of giving other British people a voice." Ms Roberts-Plowman said he then told police: "I don't hate anyone, but if you mean by am I a racist am I concerned about the British people then yes, I plead guilty to that."

Donald MacFaul, defending, argued the posters were neither threatening, abusive or insulting, and said they had not caused harassment, alarm or distress.

He said: "The posters expressed a point of view. One may not agree, one may even find it offensive, I suggest that is not enough." He added there was no evidence of hostility and said it was a case of: "I disapprove of what you say, but I defend your right to say it."

District Judge Stephen Earl said people from many countries joined the allied war efforts during the two world wars - including Gurkhas, black South Africans and Indians. Judge Earl told Stead: "They all came to France to fight, didn't they."

He said that over the centuries the British people had been made up out of numerous nationalities. He added it was clear Stead knew he had placed the stickers in an area that would cause alarm or distress.

Stead, unemployed, of Bruntoft Avenue, Hartlepool, who had no previous convictions, was found guilty of racially aggravated behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress, and a lesser public order offence. He was sentenced to 60 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay £250 prosecution costs.

Hartlepool Mail