Man admits ripping niqab veil from head of Muslim mother as she shopped with her son

PA/NORTH

Peter Scotter admitted racially aggravated assault by beating

Peter Scotter, 55, launched a foul-mouthed tirade at his terrified victim shouting “you are in our country now” and branding her a “stupid f****** Muslim”.

The woman was wearing a niqab which covered her head and face and was in a Sunderland shopping centre with her nine-year-old son waiting for her husband when she was attacked by convicted football thug Scotter.

Today the lout admitted racially aggravated assault by beating and a separate charge of racially aggravated harassment when he appeared before Newcastle Crown Court.

PA

Scotter has 66 previous convictions for 157 offences, including actual bodily harm

Both offences were based on Scotter’s hostility towards Islam, the court heard.

Here, take that f***** off, you are in our country now, you stupid f****** Muslim

Witness heard Scotter shout

Tony Hawks, defending, said heavy-smoker Scotter was diagnosed last week with a serious cancerous tumour under his tongue and requires immediate surgery.

Judge Stephen Earl said he would sentence once he has heard more details about the diagnosis.

The judge added: “This is a custodial band sentence, given his record and the nature of his actions.”

NORTH

As Peter Scotter left court he attempted to hide his face from public view using a scarf

A previous hearing at Sunderland Magistrates’ Court heard how Scotter left his victim terrified when he attacked her in July.

Laura Lax, prosecuting, told the hearing the woman was waiting with her nine-year-old son for her husband outside a store in Sunderland’s Bridges shopping centre when a man “purposefully” walked towards her and grabbed her niqab.

The force he used almost threw her to the ground, and the niqab came away from her face, exposing her and causing her pain to the neck.

She remembered being scared but was so shocked she could not remember what was said, magistrates were told.

The niqab was damaged, but she has since repaired it herself.

Miss Lax told the court the victim said afterwards: “This incident has left me scared to go out and I don’t want to go into town again.

“I am disgusted my nine-year-old son had to witness this.”

Another witness heard Scotter shout: “Here, take that f***** off, you are in our country now, you stupid f****** Muslim.”

When a police officer arrived, Scotter was being spoken to by a security guard and the defendant tried to walk away.

Scotter was heard to say: “Our Britain, you live by our f****** rules” before coming out with more racist abuse.

He continued to make derogatory comments when he was being interviewed after his arrest, Miss Lax said.

Scotter has 66 previous convictions for 157 offences, including actual bodily harm, breaching a Football Banning Order and racially aggravated criminal damage.

He was granted conditional bail and told he will be sentenced in three weeks.

As he left court he attempted to hide his face from public view using a scarf.