Callum Mcinally, 29, sparked fear and fury when he attacked worshippers outside Portsmouth Jami Mosque. On Sunday, 31 August, Mcinally shouted vile racial abuse as men, women, and children prayed. When confronted, he punched a man in the chest, kicked a prayer mat, and unleashed more racist slurs.
Not done, Mcinally returned brandishing a knife. Police sirens forced him to drop the blade and make a hasty escape.
Swift Justice Hits Hate-Fuelled Violence
Mcinally’s reign of terror ended fast. He pled guilty at Portsmouth Magistrates Court on 2 September to a series of offences:
- Racially and religiously aggravated common assault
- Assault by beating
- Racially and religiously aggravated harassment causing distress
- Threatening with a blade in public
On 3 October, Portsmouth Crown Court sentenced him to 20 months behind bars—sending a clear message that hate won’t be tolerated.
Prosecutor Issues Hard-Hitting Warning
“There is nowhere to hide for those spreading hate, malice and prejudice in our communities,” declared Harvey Withecombe of the Crown Prosecution Service. “We acted swiftly and robustly to bring Mcinally to justice.”
This strong sentence highlights the CPS’s zero-tolerance approach to hate crime, aiming to protect communities from such attacks.
