PITT: ENGLISH DEFENCE LEAGUE LEADER FINED FOR RACIST ABUSE

An EDL leader brandished an effigy of Osama bin Laden while shouting racist abuse at Muslim demonstrators.

Paul Pitt, 45, the head of the organisation’s Essex division, was part of a group who clashed with members of Muslims Against Crusades outside the American Embassy four days after the death of the al Qaeda leader.

He branded his opponents ‘f**king Muslims’ and shouted ‘Osama burn in hell’ through a megaphone before joining in a conga line with other EDL members, City of Westminster Magistrates’Court was told.

Members of the two groups staged protests in Grosvenor Square, central London, shortly after the death of bin Laden on May 6 this year, said Carol Summers, prosecuting.

‘They had been allocated pens in which to demonstrate,’ she told the court.

‘This defendant was shouting out “F*cking Muslims” through a megaphone and this was heard by police.

‘The officers also noted members of the public walking past through the park and that they were distressed.’

Pitt denied a charge of using words or behaviour likely to cause alarm, harassment or distress, but was found guilty after a trial.

He admitted brandishing the effigy and saying Bin Laden should ‘burn in hell’, but denied he swore or that he behaved aggressively.

Jobless Pitt, who represented himself at the hearing, said: ‘I did have a bin Laden effigy – the only thing I dispute is that I swore.

‘If you look on the internet there’s loads of videos that show me being arrested and show me when I had the effigy.

‘But when I was asked to take it away I went and put it in the car.

‘I had a toy megaphone – they had a PA system that they had to take around on a trolley.’

Pitt, who has previous convictions for theft, burglary, handling stolen goods, criminal damage and ABH, added: ‘We did this in a way to add a little bit of humour rather than confrontation.

‘For me to stand here because I’ve upset terrorist supporters is wrong.’

Fellow demonstrator Greg King, one of three witnesses called by Pitt, told the court: ‘The members of the public were thanking us for our support.

‘I didn’t have any negative feedback at all.

‘Paul was doing the conga and the police pulled him out from the back of the conga line where he was dancing around.

‘It was a humorous day. We were there to celebrate the death of an international terrorist.

‘We weren’t being aggressive.’

But, finding Pitt guilty of an offence under the Public Order Act, District Judge Richard Clarke said: ‘This is appalling behaviour.’

He added: ‘Your purpose must have been to cause humiliation or provocation to the other side.

‘Possessing an effigy is not a criminal offence in itself, but it gives an insight into your state of mind and behaviour.’

Pitt, of (37) Valley Mead, Stanford-le-Hope, Essex, was fined £500 and ordered to pay £385 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Speaking outside court after the hearing, he said: ‘I think this is absolutely disgusting.

‘This shows the two-tier system that is used against anybody who protests against radical Islam.’

ends