The Muslim News - Islamophobic vandal convicted

Issue 232, Friday 29 August 2008 - 14 Sha'ban 1423

Islamophobic vandal convicted

By Hajira Talbot

A vandal who has been spray-painting racist and anti-Islamic graffiti all over Hanworth, Feltham has been jailed for two months.
Robert Whitehouse, 42, of Almond Close, Feltham, pleaded guilty in the Feltham Magistrates Court earlier this month, to charges of committing racially and religiously-aggravated criminal damage and going equipped to charge criminal damage and was sentenced to eight weeks in prison.
Whitehouse was caught by police on May 2 spray-painting an anti-Islamic message.
He was found to be in possession of a spray can and stickers referring to the far right wing British National Party and National Front.
Inspector Manpreet Bains of the Hounslow Police said that the offensive graffiti was removed as soon as possible to minimise the effect on the community.
“Whilst there are people with racist views living in Hounslow, hate campaigns are rare,” said Insp. Bains. “I believe we haven’t had any similar incidents in the area reported to us since the conviction of Mr. Whitehouse.”
Bains stated that officers from the Safer Neighbourhood Team have reported that people in the community were happy with the arrest and conviction of the man. “They did not like their area ruined by such graffiti,” said Bains. “Police published the incident in local press and reiterated that we take any such event seriously and will do all we can to catch and prosecute such offenders.”

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