Peterborough mosque attacker receives a suspended jail sentence
A man who entered a Peterborough mosque in an incident of “religiously and racially aggravated harassment” before assaulting a police officer has received a suspended sentence.
Alexander Hooper, 57, of Millfield Court, Dogsthorpe, was sentenced on Friday (19 December) at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court.
A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said Hooper was found guilty of racially aggravated harassment, religiously aggravated harassment, and assault on an emergency worker.
They went on: “He was handed 27 weeks suspended for 18 months, a compensation order to pay a police officer £100, and a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order with a condition not to enter any mosque in the Peterborough Unitary Area.”
Police said he was also ordered to pay £187 in court costs, and £85 prosecution costs.
The sentencing follows the arrest made at the mosque in Alma Road on 24 October.
On October 25, Superintendent Ben Martin commented: "We recognise the impact this incident has had on the community and the importance of getting the suspect in front of the courts as swiftly as possible.
"We will continue to have an increased police presence near mosques in the city in the coming days as reassurance."