Man Given Suspended Sentence for Racially Aggravated Abuse at UK Mosque
Alexander Hooper, 57, appeared before Peterborough Magistrates’ Court after admitting to religiously and racially aggravated public order offences. He also pleaded guilty to assaulting a female police officer who arrested him at the scene on October 24.
Prosecutor Mark Jon Parkhouse told the court that Hooper entered Masjid Darassalaam at about 6:15 a.m. and directed offensive comments at worshippers, including children attending a class upstairs.
The prosecutor said Hooper also confronted a man performing ritual washing and accused the mosque of being a “death cult.”
During the incident, Hooper referred to “Tommy,” which the prosecution said appeared to be a reference to British far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
Parkhouse said the mosque “was targeted because of their religion” and described the incident as lasting around 40 minutes.
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The court heard that Hooper had been drinking before entering the mosque and later told police he remembered little of what happened.
A trustee of the mosque said the incident led to tighter security, including locking doors and assigning members to security duties.
Defence lawyer Jason Stevens said Hooper is agnostic, has mental health issues, and accepts making racially offensive remarks, including saying “white people will destroy you.”
Magistrate Jonathan Jelley sentenced Hooper to 27 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months. He also imposed a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order banning Hooper from all mosques in Peterborough, ordered £100 compensation to the assaulted officer, and required payment of court costs.
Source: Agencies
