A man has been charged with racially-aggravated criminal damage on a former pub earmarked to become a Muslim education centre in County Durham. Graham French, 28, from Shotton Colliery, will face the allegation before magistrates on Wednesday, January 22. Police refused to give any further details.

Permission has been given to Kaiser Choudry, who runs the Albert Guest House in the village, to turn the derelict Melrose Arms into an education centre. The decision has sparked demonstrations, the latest held at the start of last month.

Sunderland Echo, 8 January 2014

The Shotton Colliery demonstrations, in January and November last year, were of course organised by the English Defence League, and French was an enthusiastic participant.

Update:  See “EDL member nailed Qur’an to pub wall in protest against Islamic centre plan”, Islamophobia Watch, 24 January 2014