A man who stole from a worshipper inside a mosque in Peterborough has been sent to prison. Hassan Ali, 23, entered Faizan E Madina Mosque on Gladstone Street on the evening of 14 February. He waited in the communal area before following a worshipper into the wudhu (ablution) area. While the victim went to the toilet, Ali took £120 from the man’s jacket and quickly left the mosque.

A video of the theft can be seen below uploaded by Cambridgeshire Police on Youtube:

The whole incident was caught on CCTV and shared with Cambridgeshire Police. Officers recognised Ali from a previous burglary case. He was arrested at his home on Almond Road in Dogsthorpe on 8 April. The next day, at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court, he admitted the theft. He was sentenced to four weeks in jail and ordered to pay £210 in compensation to the victim.

The police called the crime “despicable” and reminded the public that even sacred spaces like mosques should be kept safe from such acts.