Man who threatened to burn down mosque spared jail

A 19-year-old man has been given a suspended prison sentence after threatening to burn down a mosque in an online video and shouting Islamophobic abuse from the top of a phone box.

Max Ritchings, of Haywards Heath in West Sussex, posted an Instagram story with a backdrop of news footage of unrest on 4 August, while swearing and making the threat.

Later that evening, he stood on a phone box near Brighton pier, shouting abuse.

At Lewes Crown Court earlier, Ritchings, who admitted inciting violence online and causing religiously aggravated harassment, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work in the community and 18 sessions of rehabilitation activity.

The court heard Ritchings recognised that he became “obsessed” with online personalities.

Sentencing him, Judge Christine Laing KC said: "It has to be viewed against the background of unrest... taking place [around] the country at that time and this was your contribution.

"One of those weighted numbers bringing fear to the streets of the United Kingdom at that time."

But the judge acknowledged that while he committed “very serious and troubling offences”, Ritchings showed self-reflection and was keen to understand his own mental health difficulties.

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