Jail term for man who burned Koran

A man who burned a Koran in front of city centre shoppers in Britain has been jailed for 70 days.

Andrew Ryan, 32, stole a copy of the holy book from Carlisle Library and then set it on fire with a lighter as a crowd gathered to hear his protests in front of a monument.

Police arrested Ryan, of Summerhill, Carlisle, shortly after the lunchtime incident in English Street on January 19.

Sentencing him at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court, District Judge Gerald Chalk said: “This is a case of theatrical bigotry.

“It was pre-planned by you as you stole the book deliberately. You went out to cause maximum publicity and to cause distress.”

He told Ryan that people were entitled to protest but not in the manner he chose.

The court heard the defendant had six public order convictions between 2002 and 2010 including racial chanting at a football match and assault with intent to resist arrest.

Judge Chalk said: “You are a man who has a history of violence and disorderly conduct.”

Ryan pleaded guilty to religiously aggravated harassment and theft at an earlier hearing.