Man insulted Muslims

Exeter magistrates heard the case

A man who insulted three Muslims, including one who said Osama Bin Laden was a great man, has been ordered to pay them compensation.

Alastair Scott, 33, pleaded guilty to using religiously aggravated, threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour to neighbours in the Pennsylvania area of Exeter.

Scott knew someone who had died in the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in New York on 11 September 2001, the court was told.

Magistrates considered a custodial sentence, but gave him 200-hours community service, ordered him to pay £100 costs and £100 compensation to each victim.

'Felt threatened'

The first incident happened on 9 June, when Scott stuck his middle finger up at Mrs Heno Aboulah Jolo as she visited a neighbour and asked her why did not she speak English.

The prosecution said Mrs Jolo felt very threatened and Scott made more gestures.

On the same day, Scott shouted outside the home of her neighbour Mr Alaoudah: "Are you Muslims?"

When Mr Alaoudah said his religion was against terrorist activity, Scott said: "I do not care".

The prosecution said Mr Alaoudah was upset and kept thinking he was going to be attacked.

The next day in the street outside Mr Mohammed Hudaid's home, Scott asked him what Arabs had done for humankind in the last 100 years, and a heated argument started.

'Aggressive manner'

When police arrived, Mr Hudaid told them he felt "trapped and threatened".

Under cross examination, Mr Alaoudah accepted he had said 11 September was a great day, that Osama Bin Laden was a great man and all Americans deserved to die.

But Scott accepted he had put his views in an aggressive manner and caused distress.

Scott, who had taught English in Turkey and Algeria, said he wished to apologise to the victims and their families.