A MAN WHO attacked a Muslim woman pulling off her niqab in a crowded Sunderland shopping centre has been jailed.
Peter Scotter, 56, had previously pleaded guilty at Newcastle Crown Court to one charge of religiously aggravated assault by beating and a further charge of religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm and distress.
During the attack, he reportedly screamed “live by our fucking rules” at the woman.
Today, Scotter was sentenced to 15 months in prison for the attack, which happened in Sunderland last summer. Religiously aggravated offences are viewed as hate crimes and they carry higher maximum penalties to reflect their severity.
Sharon Elves, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said:
“This was a terrifying attack in which Scotter attacked a mother who was shopping with her nine-year-old son, subjecting them to an expletive-ridden torrent of racist abuse.
“It was identified as a hate crime from the outset and Scotter’s sentence reflects the seriousness of his actions.”
Scotter’s victim had said that he should not be jailed.
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