A convicted football hooligan has admitted his involvement in an attack where a bacon sandwich was thrown at a Bristol mosque.
Kevin Crehan, 34, of Stockwood Crescent, Knowle, was charged with a racially aggravated public order offence following the incident at Jamia Mosque in Green Street, Totterdown, last month.
In a five minute hearing at Bristol Crown Court he pleaded guilty to the charge, accepting a religiously aggravated offence to cause Nasir Ahmed harassment, alarm or distress.
Judge Martin Picton adjourned his case, pending a probation report, until March 24.
He bailed Crehan on condition he co-operates with the probation service.
Crehan’s bail also prevents him from going on the pavement outside, or within the boundaries of, any mosque in England and Wales.
The judge told him: “You have to understand this case carries custody.”.
On Sunday, January 17, a flag was said to be hung on a fence outside the mosque stating: “No mosque wanted here” and “Bristol United Patriots”.
Elderly worshippers attending the mosque were abused and bacon was thrown.
Self-styled anti-Muslim group, Bristol United Patriots, operate across the city but have publicly denied having anything to do with the attack.
It is not Crehan’s first brush with the law, which has included assaulting a police officer.
In 2010 he was sentenced to seven months in prison for breaching a three year football banning order.
At the time Bristol Crown Court heard the then 28-year-old was caught with a sawn-off pool cue down his trousers.
Crehan admitted four breaches which included failing to report to a police station during the World Cup and being inside an exclusion zone before a Bristol City versus Milwall match.
The court heard he had been banned from being within a mile of Bristol City’s Ashton Gate ground.
Crehan pleaded guilty to having an offensive weapon and stealing a DVD.
Regarding the mosque attack Alison Bennett, 46, Mark Bennett, 48, both of Spruce Way, Patchway and Angelina Swailes, 31, of West Town Avenue, Brislington have all been charged with a racially aggravated public order offence.
The Bennetts and Swailes have been released on bail with a condition not to enter or go within 100 metres of any mosque.
They are due to appear at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on February 25.
