The 67-year-old, who is the only BNP candidate standing in Exeter, was tried at the city’s Crown Court. Yesterday a jury of five men and seven women found Mr Stone not guilty of the offence. Mr Stone, of Chestnut Avenue, Wonford, who is standing for the seat in Priory ward, faced a charge of causing Sarah Marillier-Brown harassment, alarm or distress, with intent, that was racially aggravated.
He was accused of shouting at the traffic warden and launching a tirade of racist abuse after approaching her while she ticketed a row of vehicles parked on a single yellow line, in Matford Park Road. He was also alleged by a witness to have said “I suppose you Muslims have your own parking space” and that she should “go back to your own country”, the court was told.
During her evidence, Mrs Marillier-Brown said she feared Mr Stone was going to hit her and said that he took her photograph. She told the court she felt intimidated and scared.
After the verdict, Mr Stone told the Echo he was “greatly relieved”, before thanking the jury and claiming justice had been served. He said the BNP was “nothing to do with racism.”
Police have vowed to bring the full force of the law against anyone involved in violence during a far-right demonstration in Bradford last Saturday. West Yorkshire Police are to scrutinise CCTV footage of the English Defence League’s demonstration in the city centre following a string of arrests for disorder.
