Four men in court for ‘pig’s head’ charge
Categories: Latest News
Tuesday November 18 2014
The Blackpool Gazette front page at the weekend reported on the trial of four men charged with religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress for their roles in a hate crime incident last year.
Thomas Ashton, 21, Andrew Warner, 30, Travis Crabtree, 25, and Steven White, 28, all admitted to religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress for throwing a pig’s head into Blackpool Central Mosque on 24 May 2013, two days after the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby.
The incident at the mosque occurred as afternoon prayers were ending and worshippers were leaving the mosque. A volunteer at the mosque was preparing for an evening class when he noticed a carrier bag in the car park of the mosque.
Prosecutor Clare Thomas told Preston Crown Court that “Sticking out of the bag was a pig’s ear and [the volunteer] realised it was attached to a pig’s head. He described himself as being totally shocked.
“It’s presence at a place of worship was highly insulting. Parents and children had started to arrive at the mosque [for evening class]. Some of them saw the head and felt offended and angry.”
The paper reports that a car belonging to Crabtree, was used to drive to a butcher’s where Crabtree, Ashton and another man purchased the pig’s head.
The Blackpool Gazette front page at the weekend reported on the trial of four men charged with religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress for their roles in a hate crime incident last year.
Thomas Ashton, 21, Andrew Warner, 30, Travis Crabtree, 25, and Steven White, 28, all admitted to religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress for throwing a pig’s head into Blackpool Central Mosque on 24 May 2013, two days after the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby.
The incident at the mosque occurred as afternoon prayers were ending and worshippers were leaving the mosque. A volunteer at the mosque was preparing for an evening class when he noticed a carrier bag in the car park of the mosque.
Prosecutor Clare Thomas told Preston Crown Court that “Sticking out of the bag was a pig’s ear and [the volunteer] realised it was attached to a pig’s head. He described himself as being totally shocked.
“It’s presence at a place of worship was highly insulting. Parents and children had started to arrive at the mosque [for evening class]. Some of them saw the head and felt offended and angry.”
The paper reports that a car belonging to Crabtree, was used to drive to a butcher’s where Crabtree, Ashton and another man purchased the pig’s head.
Two of the men, wearing hoods, subsequently carried the bag with the severed head in it to the front of the mosque while Warner reportedly remained in the car.
Messages posted on Facebook immediately following the event, including posts stating “A pig’s head has just been delivered to the mosque in Blackpool” and “They will be fuming,” were used by police to track down the offenders.
Both Ashton and Warner were previously ordered not to go within 50 metres of any mosque as part of their bail conditions. All four defendants are now in custody awaiting sentencing.
Although the mosque’s imam, Ashfaq Patel, urged the judge not to pass custodial sentence as long as the men showed remorse for their actions and the distress caused, Judge Graham Knowles warned they could potentially face up to two years in prison.
Two of the men, wearing hoods, subsequently carried the bag with the severed head in it to the front of the mosque while Warner reportedly remained in the car.
Messages posted on Facebook immediately following the event, including posts stating “A pig’s head has just been delivered to the mosque in Blackpool” and “They will be fuming,” were used by police to track down the offenders.
Both Ashton and Warner were previously ordered not to go within 50 metres of any mosque as part of their bail conditions. All four defendants are now in custody awaiting sentencing.
Although the mosque’s imam, Ashfaq Patel, urged the judge not to pass custodial sentence as long as the men showed remorse for their actions and the distress caused, Judge Graham Knowles warned they could potentially face up to two years in prison.