(Tom Wilkinson’s post from the TEESSIDE LIVE UK on 13 November 2026.)
Retired Cleveland (Yorkshire in UK) Police officer
appeals conviction for 'offensive' Facebook post about Islam. Stephen Gray, who
is appealing his conviction, is supported by the Free Speech Union:
A retired police officer is
appealing against a conviction for malicious communication after he posted a
"grossly offensive" message about Islam on Facebook. Stephen Gray
told Teesside Crown Court he was highlighting child marriage and sexual abuse.
The 65-year-old father was
convicted at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court earlier this year after he
re-posted a message on the social media site, saying: "Fun facts about
Bacon! People who eat bacon have a lower chance of marrying a nine-year-old!"
Next to the text was an image of a man in a "religious headdress", an appeal hearing was told. A district judge at the magistrates' court found that the post was grossly offensive and he was convicted in April.
Gray, who served with Cleveland
Police for 27 years, was asked by his barrister John Beggs KC why he shared the
post. The dad, who lives in Darlington, replied: "To bring to light what
is not a very nice part of what goes on in this country - child marriage,
forced marriage and just the way some children are treated."
He said he felt "very
strongly" about the issue, saying: "I have two daughters, I fostered
three girls. I look at these girls and I think they could be married (young) or
abused and it doesn't sit happily with me."
Cross-examined by Shada Mellor, for
the Crown Prosecution Service, Gray acknowledged that his post referenced the
Islamic faith. He explained that the context was the marriage between the
Prophet Mohammed and Aisha, who was six, adding: "It is a fundamental part
of Islam."
Ms Mellor said: "You don't say
the Prophet Mohammed in this post, you are referring to all people of the
Islamic Faith." Gray replied: "No, I disagree." Ms Mellor asked:
"You are grouping together everybody of the Islamic faith saying they have
a propensity to sexually abuse children." He replied: "I disagree
with that."
She said as an ex-police officer, he must have realised that online posts could whip up tension, adding: "That is entirely what you are trying to do here?" Gray replied: "I totally and utterly disagree with that."
He claimed that child marriage was
"an international issue". The complaint was made to police by Gray's
neighbour, the court heard. Gray told the appeal hearing he was in dispute with
the complainant, telling police in an interview in January 2025 that the report
was "malicious", with the intention of getting him a criminal record
so he could no longer foster children.
He said he had around 15 to 20
Facebook followers, although Ms Mellor pointed out his posts could be shared
more widely. Recorder Bryan Cox, sitting with two magistrates, will hear legal
arguments and the result of the appeal is expected later on Friday, November
13. In her closing submission, Ms Mellor said: "People are entitled to
make comment. The question is, does this post cross the threshold into `grossly
offensive'?"
Mr Beggs, in his closing speech,
said: "It is an inconvenient truth to some that the Prophet Mohammed is
said to have married Aisha when she was six and to have consummated their
marriage when she was nine.
"As I uttered those words, no
doubt people in this court become offended. But this is the importance of this
case, we are entitled to be offensive in this country, because we live in a
liberal democracy that has plurality and democracy."
Recorder Bryan Cox, sitting with
two magistrates, said the result of the appeal will be given at a hearing on
December 21. Gray's appeal is supported by the Free Speech Union.
(Here's a pregnant 12-year-old girl with her 67-year-old "husband” from Afghanistan.)
