Motorist jailed for driving at 15-year-old Muslim boy outside a mosque because he was wearing Islamic dress
Lee Blenkin had once been honoured at Buckingham Palace for services to the community, was jailed for 16 weeks for the hate crime
A motorist has been jailed for driving at a 15-year-old Muslim boy because the teenager was wearing Islamic dress.
Engineer Lee Blenkin, 49, spotted the lad as he as he walked towards his mosque, winding down his window down and yelling: "Why the f--- are you wearing that?", the court heard.
The terrified school boy had to cower behind a wall as Blenkin zig-zagged his car towards him, a court heard.
Blenkin, once honoured by Buckingham Palace for services to the community, was jailed for sixteen weeks over the hate crime.
It happened as the teenager walked towards his mosque wearing full Islamic dress on August 9, JPs in Kirklees Magistrates Court, West Yorkshire, heard.
This is disgusting behaviour. You caused enormous fear to a 15-year-old boy and the public won't tolerate this. Neither will this court.
District Judge Michael Fanning
Prosecutor Jill Seddon said the boy told police: "He seemed to want my attention and I went towards the car.
"When I got to the passenger window the man said 'Why did you convert to them?'I said 'What do you mean?' and he said 'Why the f**k are you wearing that?'."
Blenkin continued to yell at the teenager about his religious beliefs for one-and-a-half minutes - then reversed back before driving at the boy.
The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said: "I ran away and the vehicle drove at me again. It did this four times.
"I heard the tyres losing grip and I ran as fast as I could as I thought he was going to hit me."
The schoolboy eventually took refuge behind a wall, noted down the car number plate and texted the details to his sister who called police.
He added that he felt "very distressed" by what had happened.
RELATED STORIES
Zahid Majeed, mitigating, said that his client was "genuinely remorseful" and"bowed his head in shame" over his actions that day.
The court heard Blenkin, of previous good character, was once invited to Buckingham Palace and given an award by the Queen for his engineering work.
"He understands that everyone has rights to their religious freedom and it was none of his business to make any comment about the way the complainant was dressed," Mr Majeed added.
Blenkin, of Halifax Road in Dewsbury, admitted religiously-aggravated assault on August 9.
District Judge Michael Fanning told him: "This is disgusting behaviour. You caused enormous fear to a 15-year-old boy and the public won't tolerate this. Neither will this court.
"The only explanation for your behaviour is some type of deep seated animosity towards Muslims.
"You targeted a 15-year-old for no other reason than he was dressed as a Muslim.
"You revved the car engine, spun the wheels and drove at him in a zig zag as he ran no doubt in fear for his life.
"This is a deterrent sentence. Nobody should believe that they can behave in this way and target somebody because of their religion of race or belief."
Because Blenkin used his car as a weapon, he was also banned from driving for 12 months and eight weeks.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368