Man sentenced for trying to mow down Muslim teenager

The Huddersfield Examiner reports on the sentencing of a man who verbally abused a Muslim teenager before driving his car toward the youngster forcing him to take refuge behind a wall.

Lee Blenkin, 49, appeared before Kirklees magistrates’ court last week in connection with the incident on 9 August. The court heard the teenager was on his way to a mosque in Dewsbury, dressed in Islamic dress, when Blenkin drove his car at him.

Blenkin drove past his victim, wound down his car window and shouted something out of the window.

Prosecutor Jill Seddon relayed to the court the victim’s testimony. The victim described the incident saying “He [Blenkin] seemed to want my attention and I went towards the car. When I got to the passenger window the man said why did you convert to them?”

“‘I said what do you mean and he said ‘why the f**k are you wearing that’?”

“He shouted at me and I believe this was because I was wearing Islamic dress.”

The prosecutor told the court Blenkin made reference to the victim “being a Muslim” while engaging in a “tirade of abuse [which] lasted for around one and a half minutes.”

The victim said: “I ran away and the vehicle drove at me again. It did this four times.

“I heard the tyres losing grip and I ran as fast as I could as I thought he was going to hit me.”

The victim jumped over a wall to escape Blenkin. He took down the car’s number plate and texted the details to his sister who called the police.

District Judge Michael Fanning sentencing Blenkin said: “The only explanation for your behaviour is some type of deep seated animosity towards Muslims.

“You targeted a 15 year old for no other reason than he was dressed as a Muslim.

“This is a deterrent sentence. Nobody should believe that they can behave in this way and target somebody because of their religion or race or belief.”

Blenkin was sentenced to 16 weeks in jail. Judge Fanning also banned him from driving for 12 months and eight weeks.