Blackpool man in court charged with throwing pig’s head into mosque

A man accused of being involved in throwing a pig’s head into a Blackpool mosque at prayer time has made his first appearance at court.

Andrew Warner, 29, of Kentmere Drive, Mereside, is charged with racially aggravated threatening behaviour. The offence is alleged to have taken place at the mosque on Revoe Street on May 24 this year.

Elliott Taylforth, prosecuting, asked for the case to be heard at the higher crown court. Defence lawyer, David Charnley, said his client would not indicate a plea to the offence at this stage.

Warner was bailed to attend Preston Crown Court on February 20 by Blackpool magistrates. He must not go within 50 metres of any mosque as a condition of his bail, he was told.

Blackpool Gazette, 25 November 2013

Thomas Ashton, who was part of the group who bought a pig’s head from a butcher’s shop and then hurled it into the mosque, has already pleaded guilty to racially aggravated threatening behaviour.