Prison looms for mosque raider

A man faces jail after admitting breaking in to Maidstone Mosque and stealing three charity collection boxes.

As he was led from the dock in handcuffs, a characteristically chirpy Peter Griffiths called out to magistrates: “Have a nice day, it’s been emotional.”

The 49-year-old was due to stand trial at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court last Thursday for stealing nine Swarovski pens when he changed his plea and also admitted burgling the mosque and stealing a handbag.

A fourth charge of stealing a bottle of Moët from London Road’s Majestic Wines was dropped by the Crown Prosecu- tion Service due to lack of evidence.

Griffiths, formerly of Quarry Road, and an accomplice broke in to the town’s Islamic Centre in Mote Road through the female prayer entrance in December.

Donation boxes containing an unknown amount of money were ripped from the wall.

Initially he denied being present but told the police during interview he would occa- sionally sleep in churches and mosques as they were often left open overnight.

The pens, worth £239, were taken from H Samuel in Ashford last July and the bag was stolen from Caffè Nero in Maidstone’s King Street in February.

After that offence Griffiths was confronted by a PCSO who told him a wedding ring was in the bag.

Ten minutes later he phoned the officer and told him the ring would be found behind the wheel of a car in Wyke Manor Road.

He was later questioned and answered “no comment” to most questions but when quizzed about the ring replied “It would be nasty to deprive a person of their wedding ring, wouldn’t it?”.

Griffiths, who is in custody for a unrelated offence, will be sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on a date to be decided.