Drunk and bloodied man given £10 at mosque for a taxi, then calls Muslim man a terrorist

After giving a drunk and bloodied man money to help him get home, Muslims praying at Swansea Mosque were repaid by abuse.

With blood on his hands and face, Jack Thomas took the £10 offered by the worshippers and sat on the ground directly outside the building on St Helen’s Road.

According to Prosecutor, Lisa Jones, Thomas then addressed a member of the mosque who had come to the door, saying: “You’re a bloody terrorist.”

Jones added that Thomas then proceeded to go round to the rear of the mosque, where he banged on the fire exit door and spat on the glass, leaving blood on it.

She says that when a member of the mosque opened the door, Thomas asked why he was dressed the way he was.

The incident happened in the early hours of June 2 after Thomas had been out drinking with friends and then on his own.

Jones asserted that one of the witnesses in the mosque said that he felt sorry for Thomas but that his terrorist comment was Islamophobic.

The court further heard that Thomas swore at the arresting police officers but, when interviewed, could not recall what he had said to the people who had answered the doors at the mosque.

Thomas pleaded guilty to charges of religiously aggravated harassment or alarm, and using threatening or abusive words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour.

Defending, Anthony O’Connell noted that Thomas had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity, and that he had alcohol and some mental health issues.

Magistrates said they did not like what they had heard and ordered 22-year-old Thomas to pay £235 in fines and costs.

Chairman of the bench, Keith Buckley, added: “I would like to say more, but I won’t — it won’t be appropriate.”