A teenage boy has admitted religiously harassing a McDonald's worker - by persistently mocking her because she is a Pagan. The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, visited the fast food restaurant frequently over a period of more than six weeks to taunt the woman over her beliefs. The case is understood to be the first in the UK to involve a case of religious harassment against a Pagan.
The boy, who lives in Lawford, Ess*x, pleaded guilty to religiously aggravated harassment at Colchester youth court on Wednesday. Magistrates banned him from contacting the woman and gave him a three month referral order, which means he must report to a panel of youth workers and may be forced to do unpaid work. The court heard how the boy repeatedly went to the McDonald's restaurant in Colchester, Ess*x, between December 24, 2001 and February 18 and harassed the female employee because she was a Pagan.
Paganism, the followers of which include druids, shamans and heathens, is recognised as a religion under UK law. Prosecutor Simon Newell said: 'Religiously aggravated harassment is an unusual offence - the first I have dealt with, especially one where perhaps not everyone would consider it a religion, but it is deemed to be so. 'The defendant has found out others have called her a Pagan and he has jumped on the bandwagon.
