Asian man cleared of racially abusing Nick Griffin

Wed Nov 4 2009 13:43:40

An Asian man has been cleared of racially abusing BNP leader Nick Griffin.

Tauriq Khalid, 23, was accused of shouting "white b*******" at far-right demonstrators in his home town of Burnley, Lancashire, in November last year.

But a jury cleared Khalid of using racially abusive threatening behaviour following a three-day trial at Preston Crown Court.

Khalid admitted shouting derisory comments from his car window at BNP leader Nick Griffin outside Burnley police station.

He told the jury he stopped his Vauxhall Astra and shouted "Nick Griffin, you f****** w*****" before making a V-sign with his fingers. He also admitted shouting: "Get the f*** out of Burnley, you're not welcome here".

But he denied making a gun gesture towards Mr Griffin or using racist language.

Khalid was arrested after one of the protesters noted down his car's registration number and complained to police.

He told the jury: "I shouldn't have done what I done really, it was just a spur of the moment thing."

Mr Griffin said the verdict was "unfortunate" but that he accepted the jury's decision.

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