A MAN arrested after hanging a flag of St George outside a partially built mosque has had the case against him thrown out of court.
District judge Andrew Vickers dismissed the charge of religiously aggravated harassment against Ronald Peterson, from Tilehurst, at Reading Crown Court today (Thursday).
Mr Peterson, 37, a member of the English Defence League (EDL), was arrested on May 30 last year when a witness called the police after seeing him hang the flag on a fence outside the Oxford Road mosque in West Reading and hearing him chant "EDL" and "England".
Judge Vickers said he did not believe Mr Peterson's words were threatening, abusive or insulting or that he was motivated by religious hatred, and added: "Was the display of the St George's flag a challenge to the Islamic faith? I do not find that beyond reasonable doubt."
Speaking afterwards, Mr Peterson said: "I'm happy but I'm not happy because at the end of the day I shouldn't have been in court in the first place."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article