Three Men Jailed in London for Targeting Muslim Community Buildings
The incidents took place in Rainham, in the borough of Havering, in July 2022. The targets included the Rainham Village Children’s Centre, the Royal Youth Community Centre, and Harris Academy. All three venues had been used for classes and prayers attended by the local Muslim community, The Telegraph reported on Tuesday.
Prosecutors said the acts were “deliberate and strategic.” Pig heads were left at the entrances, and graffiti reading “no mosques” was spray-painted on walls. CCTV footage showed one of the men attempting to conceal his face while placing the remains.
According to the court, Harvey Wells, 21, carried out the placements, while Josh Campbell, 34, and James Desbois, 30, assisted in the actions. Wells and Desbois admitted three counts of religiously aggravated damage to property. Campbell denied involvement but was convicted of the same charges.
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Judge Gerard Pounder, delivering the sentence, told the defendants: “On that day the three of you decided to embark upon a series of three acts specifically intended to disrupt that harmony… This is a particularly nasty thing to do in another community. It is obvious that your offending was designed to cause serious distress.”
The sentences totaled more than seven years: Wells and Campbell each received 32 months, and Desbois 25 months.
Superintendent Simon Hutchison previously described the case as one of “Islamophobic hate crimes.”
Prosecutor Louise Oakley also noted that the graffiti and remains were left as “a message of religious hostility.”
The impact was felt particularly at Rainham Village Primary School, which shares a site with the children’s center.
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Headteacher Helen Harrow said the walkway was cleaned 23 times, but the graffiti was still visible. “Nearly half of the children are Muslim, and I have Muslim staff. I am now constantly worried about going to school and seeing more graffiti on the windows,” she said.
The court heard that the actions caused distress in an area where diverse communities work to promote “harmony and mutual respect.”
Source: Agencies
