Sunderland Echo
January 12, 2014
A man has been charged with racially-aggravated criminal damage on a former pub earmarked to become a Muslim education centre in County Durham.
Graham French, 28, from Shotton Colliery, will face the allegation before magistrates on Wednesday, January 22. Police refused to give any further details. Permission has been given to Kaiser Choudry, who runs the Albert Guest House in the village, to turn the derelict Melrose Arms into an education centre.
The decision has sparked demonstrations, the latest held at the start of last month.