The British Muslim member of the European Parliament Sajjad Karim and his family have been placed under 24 hour police protection following a protest by the right wing English Defence League at his constituency residence in north west England.

According to the MEP of Pakistani heritage, around 50 EDL extremists turned up unannounced at his UK address on Saturday at just after midday, bearing anti-Islamic placards intent on violence.

“It was only through the presence of Lancashire Constabulary officers that harm was avoided,” he told media via a digital message. He went on to say that the extremists then carried on to his original hometown of Brierfield, Lancashire, where they carried out violent attacks and four arrests were made.

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The leader of the English Defence League has been banned from organising or taking part in any of the group’s protests as part of bail conditions.

Stephen Lennon, of Layham Drive, Luton, pleaded not guilty to a public order offence, which is alleged to have happened at an EDL rally in Luton town centre on May 26 against Euro MEP Richard Howitt.

At Luton Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, the 26-year-old was granted conditional bail to reappear before magistrates on October 31 for a trial. As part of his conditions he must tell Luton police, within three days, if he is to move addresses.

He must also not knowingly organise, travel to, or participate in any march, demonstration, protest or similar within ten miles of Luton. In addition he must not send any article, letter, fax or email that seeks to promote or publicise any match, demonstration or protest in the open air within ten miles of Luton.

At a hearing at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court on June 24 in relation to an assault, he has been granted the same bail conditions, which also ban him from the above but which occur more than ten miles from the centre of Luton.

He was also ordered by Blackburn magistrates to report to Luton Police station every Saturday between midday and 2pm, but he was unable to do so yesterday as he was on holiday. If he breaks any of his bail conditions he can be imprisoned. He is due to stand trial at Preston Magistrates’ Court for the assault charge on September 29.

Luton on Sunday, 3 July 2011

A member of the English Defence League (EDL) in Notts has pleaded guilty to being involved in an anti-Muslim “hate crime”. Christopher Payne helped a group of EDL members put a pig’s head sprayed with an anti-Muslim message on a 4ft yellow pole in Collington Way, West Bridgford. Payne, 25, of Beardsmore Grove, Hucknall, also spray-painted “No mosque here EDL Notts” on the pavement.

Payne appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court yesterday where he pleaded guilty to two charges of racially or religiously aggravated criminal damage and causing racially or religiously aggravated alarm, harassment or distress by words or writing.

Daniel Pietryka, prosecuting, said: “Payne had been in a pub in Clifton with other EDL members when he received a text message from a friend who had the pig’s head. It was brought to the pub in a bin liner.”

The court heard there are plans to build a mosque on the site in Collington Way, off Rugby Road.

Payne was arrested on Saturday and told police under interview that he was a member of the EDL who had responsibility for arranging meetings and events in Notts.

District Judge Morris Cooper warned Payne that “all sentencing options are open at this stage” before adjourning the case for a pre-sentence probation report. He said: “You were involved in a course of conduct with others which involved the display of this pig’s head on a stake with grossly offensive comments written on it.”

Payne was granted bail despite police concerns about his involvement with the EDL. The bail conditions include a curfew between 10pm and 5am, that he stays away from West Bridgford and doesn’t go within 200 metres of a mosque. Payne also must not meet with other EDL members.

Payne is next due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on July 21.

Three other men are due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates Court today in connection with the incident. Wayne Havercroft, 41, of Bestwood Village, Nicholas Long, 21, of Arnold, and Robert Joseph Parnham, 19, of Clifton, are each charged with causing religiously aggravated alarm, harassment or distress by words/writing and religiously aggravated criminal damage.

Wayne Havercroft is also charged with causing religiously aggravated alarm, harassment or distress by words/writing in Nottingham city centre on Saturday 25 June.

Nottingham Post, 28 June 2011

Update:  See “Pig’s head on pole: Three plead guilty to hate crime”,Nottingham Post, 29 June 2011

A man has been ordered to pay compensation after graffiting racist abuse on the doors of Hebden Bridge train station.

James Allen, 62, of Wood Villas, Hebden Bridge, appeared unrepresented at Calderdale Magistrates’ Court. He admitted causing £700 damage and possessing two bags of cannabis.

On seven different occasions between April 23 and June 7, station staff found graffiti supporting the English Defence League daubed on the back of doors in the male toilets.

He was given a 12-month community order and told to complete 60 hours of unpaid work, pay compensation of £100 and £85 towards costs.

Halifax Courier, 27 June 2011

The English Defence League’s protest in Tower Hamlets, provisionally set for 27 August, has now been rescheduled for 3 September.