Latest news with #EdmundFowler
The Independent
18-07-2025
- The Independent
Man sentenced for dropping vermin outside religious venue
Edmund Fowler, 66, was captured on CCTV releasing rats outside Sheffield Grand Mosque on Grimesthorpe Road. This incident was part of a series of racially motivated hate crimes, which Fowler repeated on three other occasions between May and June. Fowler, of Skelwith Drive, Sheffield, pleaded guilty to four counts of racially aggravated harassment at Sheffield Magistrates' Court. On 16 July, he was handed an 18-week prison sentence, which was suspended for 18 months. As part of his sentence, Fowler was also prohibited from going near any mosque for 18 months.
The Independent
17-07-2025
- The Independent
Man dumps rats outside Sheffield mosque in hate crime
This is the shocking moment a man releases rats outside a mosque in Sheffield as part of a series of racially motivated hate crimes. CCTV footage shows Edmund Fowler, 66, taking cages containing rats from his car boot and dumping them outside Sheffield Grand Mosque on Grimesthorpe Road, with the vermin appearing to run in through the fence. The 66-year-old repeated this on three other occasions between May and June. Fowler, of Skelwith Drive, Sheffield, pleaded guilty to four counts of racially aggravated harassment at Sheffield Magistrates' Court. On Thursday (16 July), he was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, and banned from going near a mosque for 18 months.
News18
17-07-2025
- News18
Caught On Camera: UK Man Releases Rats Outside Sheffield Mosque, Shouts Racist Remarks
Last Updated: Edmund Fowler, 66, released rats outside Sheffield Grand Mosque in a series of hate crimes, causing shock and distress among worshippers. A UK man was seen releasing caged rats outside a mosque in a premeditated series of hate crimes described by magistrates as 'disgusting" and 'highly dehumanising" in CCTV footage played in court. In the video, Edmund Fowler, 66, was seen lifting a cage from the boot of his car and freeing the animals onto the pavement outside Sheffield Grand Mosque on four separate occasions between May and June. The video also captured Edmund Fowler shouting racist insults at worshippers entering the mosque on Grimesthorpe Road. In additional mobile phone footage recorded by Edmund Fowler himself, he is heard saying to the rats, 'Guess where you're going," 'Say bye bye," and 'I'll point you in the right direction." Edmund Fowler pleaded guilty at Sheffield Magistrates' court to four counts of racially aggravated harassment. Despite the shocking footage, he was not sent to prison but received an 18-week prison sentence and was banned from going near any mosque or certain areas of Sheffield for the same duration. The court heard that Edmund Fowler's actions had caused widespread 'upset and shock" as the manager of Sheffield Grand Mosque said in a statement, 'It is evident people using the mosque are Muslim. They are scared of further harassment and are now too scared to come to the mosque." Chair of the bench, Suzanne Irish-Deverill, said she was 'disgusted" by the footage, adding, 'Your crimes were pre-planned on multiple occasions. You also had the audacity to record it yourself. It has had significant impact and caused shock and distress. People are entitled to travel to a place of worship without being racially or religiously harassed- it is a hate crime." The court was told that Edmund Fowler may have suffered a mental breakdown linked to the stress of caring for his wife, who has breast cancer. However, no motive was provided by Edmund Fowler, who acknowledged that his behaviour was 'appalling." Iman Atta, director of the anti-hate crime charity Tell Mama, called the acts 'highly dehumanising", saying, 'This specific targeting of a mosque and the release of rats in itself is highly dehumanizing. It's not just a targeting of an institution- it's the impact it has on the congregation… a congregation feeling that this is intentional harassment that they're going through on an ongoing basis." Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments First Published: July 17, 2025, 21:07 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Telegraph
17-07-2025
- Telegraph
Watch: Man releases rat into mosque in racist attack
A man filmed himself releasing a rat into a mosque as part of a racist attack. Edmund Fowler, 66, let a rat out from a cage and into the grounds of the Grand Mosque in Sheffield last month, while filming the incident on his phone. CCTV from outside the mosque also captured Fowler in the act of taking a cage containing the rodent out of the boot of his Black Audi and releasing it. Sheffield Magistrates Court heard Fowler, from Sheffield, had driven to the place of worship on four occasions between May and June and filmed himself performing the criminal act. During those visits Fowler had also been shouting racist insults at people entering the building. Officers from South Yorkshire police subsequently charged Fowler with four counts of racially aggravated harassment, which he pleaded guilty to at an earlier hearing at the same court on June 27. Police were notified of his offences after they were called to the mosque following reports of a man allegedly stopping at the side of the road and releasing three rats from the boot of a vehicle. At the time he was remanded to custody ahead of his sentencing hearing.
Arab News
17-07-2025
- Arab News
Man jailed in UK after releasing rats outside mosque
LONDON: A man has been jailed in the UK after being filmed dumping wild rats outside a mosque in the city of Sheffield, The Independent reported on Thursday. Edmund Fowler, 66, was caught on film unloading the rodents from the back of his car outside Sheffield Grand Mosque. Footage showed the rats running through the mosque's fence into the grounds of the building. Fowler did this a further three times between May and June before being charged. He pleaded guilty to four counts of racially aggravated harassment at Sheffield Magistrates' Court, which sentenced him to 18 months in jail and banned him from going near a mosque for a further 18 months upon release. The mosque's manager said in a statement that community members 'are scared of further harassment and are now too scared to come to the mosque.'
