Man Jailed for Releasing Rats at Sheffield Mosque

A man in the UK has been sentenced to prison after being caught on camera releasing wild rats outside a mosque in Sheffield, The Independent reported on Thursday.

Edmund Fowler, 66, was filmed unloading the rodents from the back of his car at the Sheffield Grand Mosque. The footage showed the rats scurrying through the fence and into the mosque grounds.

He repeated the act three more times between May and June before being arrested and charged. Fowler admitted to four counts of racially aggravated harassment at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison and given an additional 18-month ban from approaching any mosque after his release.

In a statement, the mosque’s manager said the incident has left community members frightened and reluctant to visit the mosque due to fear of further harassment.