'The slightly off thing about this case is the members of the mosque all know the defendant,' - Man attacked the door of a

Blackburn magistrates heard that when Gary James Morris was challenged he shouted racist abuse accusing the worshippers of being Muslim terrorists and asking if they were going to bomb him.

The court was told he went back into a nearby house and emerged with a tin of paint and threw it at them, causing damage to a parked car.

Morris, of Montrose Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated criminal damage to the mosque door, racially aggravated threatening behaviour and criminal damage to a car belonging to Mohammed Mulla.

He was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months, made subject to a curfew between 8pm and 7am for three months and ordered to pay £800 compensation and £150 costs.

Jim Mowbray, prosecuting, said Zunaide Mulla was at prayer in the Stansfeld Street mosque when he heard a loud banging and then the sound of breaking glass coming from the front door. Along with other members he went outside to investigate. The door of a nearby house opened and three men, one of them the defendant, came out and started making racist comments.

"The slightly off thing about this case is the members of the mosque all know the defendant," said Mr Mowbray. "They haven't any problems with him in the past and are at a loss to understand why he behaved in this way."

Scott Parker, defending, said his client was equally bemused by his behaviour.

"The members of the mosque don't know why he did it and neither does he," said Mr Parker. "To his credit he has already spoken to the witnesses and offered his apologies and expressed his remorse. They tried to retract their complaint."