Man smashed stained glass window of historic Mill Hill chapel in Leeds city centre and abused vicar during religiously aggravated rampage

Aaaj Mahdodi caused £1,000 worth of damage and shouted vile abuse during the disturbance at Mill Hill Chapel on September 18 last year.

Leeds Crown Court heard the 26-year-old appeared "irate" and attracted the attention of members of the public who saw him walking up and down outside the chapel.

Nadim Bashir, prosecuting, said the defendant picked up stones and beer cans from the ground and threw them at a stained glass window, causing it to smash.

Mr Bashir said Rev Joe James was inside the chapel at the time of the incident and went to get his mobile phone to contact police when he saw the damage being caused.

An imam who is based at the chapel approached Mahdodi to speak to him after seeing him jumping into a flower bed.

Mahdodi was heard shouting vulgar slurs in reference to the Queen and Christianity.

The imam tried to calm the defendant down but he continued hurling abuse.

Mahdodi continued to be aggressive and threw more items at the window.

The defendant said to the imam: "Why are you helping these f****** people."

The imam showed Mahdodi a copy of the Koran and told him he was being disrespectful, saying: "This is a house of God."

Mahdodi then banged on the door to the chapel, charged at Rev Jones when he opened it and said: "I want to see the boss."

Mr Bashir said he had to move out of the way to avoid being knocked over.

Once inside the chapel Mahdodi picked up a candlestick and threw it at the front door.

The imam then went inside the chapel, grabbed the defendant by the collar and pulled him outside.

An off-duty police tried to restrain Mahdodi outside the chapel as a crowd began to gather.

Mahdodi picked up another stone and threw it at the reverend but he managed to move out of the way.

The defendant got away but was arrested by another police officer on Park Row.

Mahdodi admitted responsibility for what he had done when interviewed.

the prosecutor said: "He said he was angry at the time and if members of the public who were present did not like him they should give him a passport and send him back to his own country."

Mahdodi went on to commit a further offence of criminal damage at Leeds Methodist Mission, on Oxford Place, four days after he was bailed.

He was arrested when police saw him using a large plank of wood to hit rocks towards the windows.

When interviewed about that offence Mahdodi said he 'didn't like churches'.

Mahdodi, 26, now of Harford Street, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to religiously aggravated threatening behaviour, religiously aggravated harassment and religiously aggravated criminal damage.

Soheil Khan, mitigating, said Mahdodi admitted the offences at an early stage and has been in custody since entering guilty pleas on August 12 this year.

Mr Khan said his client had been suffering from mental health problems which were made were by his abuse of illicit drugs.

The barrister said Mahdodi had found a new partner and had managed to turn his life around since the incident after moving from Leeds to Middlesbrough.

Mahdodi was was given a four-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and was ordered to take part in a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

He was also made the subject of an electronically-monitored curfew for three three months.

Judge Geoffrey Marson QC said: "We live in a tolerant society.

"We are tolerant of all regions, including yours, and you should be tolerant of other religions.

"In normal circumstances I would have no hesitation in sending you immediately to prison.

"But because of the sentencing guildelines in to which these offences fall, the additional time you would spend in custody would be limited."