A MAN has admitted throwing petrol over a mosque during an attempted arson attack.
Gerald Davis targeted the Muslim place of worship on Chester Road, Sunderland.
Davis, 53, of Palmerston Road, Peterborough, was originally charged with attempting to commit arson with intent to endanger the lives of Muslims.
But at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday prosecutors accepted his guilty plea to the lesser charge of attempting to commit arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.
The court heard Davis has been examined by a psychiatrist who has recommended he be sentenced to a hospital order under the Mental Health Act.
He must be assessed by another psychiatrist before such sentence could be passed.
Mr Recorder Toby Hedworth adjourned sentence until May 28 and remanded Davis in custody in the meantime.
The Judge said: "The recommendation of one doctor is you be made subject of a hospital order under the terms of the mental health act.
"For that to be done there needs to be a second report from another appropriately qualified psychiatrist.
"I am going to adjourn your case for six weeks to allow the preparation of that report and allow arrangements to be made for your admission in due course to such hospital."
Davis had also admitted a charge of exposure relating to an incident two days before the mosque attack in the early hours of October 16 last year.
On December 9 last year, Sunderland Magistrates' Court heard that Davis had exposed himself to a woman at the George Washington Hotel, near High Usworth, Washington.
The victim said Davis had struck up conversation with her by the hotel's swimming pool, before dropping his towel to expose his genitals.
Sunderland Echo
