FOUR workmen have appeared in court charged with a faith crime after a church-going teenager was allegedly tied to a crucifix, attacked with a lit aerosol and had a dummy taped to his mouth.

Andrew Addison, 30, of Westbourne Road, Selby, and three others are accused of a series of attacks against the same youngster in York city-centre, London and Hull.

Addison is charged with harassing the teenager between July 1, 2014 and May 31, 2015. He allegedly:

  • Assaulted him with a lit aerosol in London and filmed the incident
  • Tied him to a chair, taped a dummy in his mouth and lifted him into Piccadilly in York in November 2014
  • Tied the youngster to a crucifix in January this year
  • Left him a threatening message on Facebook in May this year

He is also charged with assaulting him by beating him in March in London.

Addison is also charged alongside Christopher Jackson, 21, of Acorn Close in Barlby, Alex Puchir, 37, of Glenallan Drive in Edinburgh and Joseph Richard Rose, 21, of Main Street in Bubwith, with a religiously-aggravated assault in Hull.

The prosecution at York Magistrates Court on Thursday alleged the four men knew the teenager was a Christian and church-goer.

Rose is also charged with a separate count of harassment by marking the complainant's body with a indelible marker pen while he slept in London, and sending him a threatening message over the picture and video messaging service Snapchat.

All four defendants spoke only to confirm their names and addresses, but their solicitor Lee-Anne Robins-Hicks, indicated they would deny the charges.

They are due to appear at York Crown Court on Friday, October 9.