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Pig's head at Cheltenham mosque: Simon Parkes jailed | Pig's head at Cheltenham mosque: Simon Parkes jailed |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A former soldier who tied a pig's head to the gates of a Cheltenham mosque has been jailed for four months. | A former soldier who tied a pig's head to the gates of a Cheltenham mosque has been jailed for four months. |
Simon Parkes, 45, from Bishop's Cleeve, Gloucestershire, also sprayed racist graffiti during the attack in November 2010, Gloucester Crown Court heard. | Simon Parkes, 45, from Bishop's Cleeve, Gloucestershire, also sprayed racist graffiti during the attack in November 2010, Gloucester Crown Court heard. |
Parkes, who had admitted racially aggravated criminal damage, said he was angry Muslim extremists had burnt poppies at a Remembrance Day service. | |
His actions were "blatantly designed to be insulting," Judge Jamie Tabor said. | His actions were "blatantly designed to be insulting," Judge Jamie Tabor said. |
The judge told the former soldier: "You deliberately set out to not just insult another religion, but inflame and increase racial tension at a sensitive time." | The judge told the former soldier: "You deliberately set out to not just insult another religion, but inflame and increase racial tension at a sensitive time." |
Parkes, who was wearing a mask when he went to the mosque, had written the word Allah on the pig's head, the court heard. | Parkes, who was wearing a mask when he went to the mosque, had written the word Allah on the pig's head, the court heard. |
'Appalling criminal behaviour' | 'Appalling criminal behaviour' |
The court was told he had carried out the revenge attack on 13 November after Muslim extremists had set fire to poppies at a Remembrance Day service in London. | The court was told he had carried out the revenge attack on 13 November after Muslim extremists had set fire to poppies at a Remembrance Day service in London. |
A spokesman from Cheltenham Mosque said: "This was a very shocking incident for the whole community, Muslim and non-Muslim alike." | A spokesman from Cheltenham Mosque said: "This was a very shocking incident for the whole community, Muslim and non-Muslim alike." |
Tim Waterhouse from Gloucestershire Police said: "I hope this sentence sends out a clear message that this sort of appalling criminal behaviour will not be tolerated. | Tim Waterhouse from Gloucestershire Police said: "I hope this sentence sends out a clear message that this sort of appalling criminal behaviour will not be tolerated. |
"Although this disturbing incident happened nearly two years ago, a painstaking and difficult inquiry has led to today's sentencing. | "Although this disturbing incident happened nearly two years ago, a painstaking and difficult inquiry has led to today's sentencing. |
"The message is clear that we will not stop in our determination to target criminals and keep people and our communities safe from harm." | "The message is clear that we will not stop in our determination to target criminals and keep people and our communities safe from harm." |
Parkes, who served in the Falklands, Northern Ireland and Belize, also admitted a public order offence. | Parkes, who served in the Falklands, Northern Ireland and Belize, also admitted a public order offence. |
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