DANIEL Cressey has been found guilty of helping his cousin and another man to firebomb Grimsby's mosque.
Jurors yesterday delivered the guilty verdict against Cressey, 25, from New Holland, who has been on trial at Grimsby Crown Court all this week.
They found that he aided and abetted his cousin Stuart Harness and Gavin Humphries in attacking the Grimsby Islamic Cultural Centre, in Weelsby Road, on the night of May 26.
The jury agreed with the prosecution that Cressey, pictured, drove the two men – who have already admitted arson reckless as to whether life was endangered – to the mosque.
Former soldiers Harness, 34, and Humphries, 37, then threw four petrol bombs over the entrance of the centre just after evening prayers had ended.
Cressey admitted to going to Harness' house in Dixon Avenue on the day of the attack, but had denied driving them.
The defendant was arrested and charged in June, following police questioning.
Jeremy Evans, prosecuting, told the court during the trial that it "beggars belief" that Cressey claimed the attack did not happen without his knowledge.
He told the court: "They knew exactly what had taken place and were obviously in frequent contact.
"This is another strand of evidence that flies in the face of what the defendant told police.
"He (Cressey) could not have missed the fact there were home-made petrol bombs being constructed in the building."
The fire-bombing took place just four days after the death of soldier Lee Rigby, in Woolwich, which prompted heightened tensions, resulting in a patrol by a PCSO vehicle around the mosque on Weelsby Road.
Jurors were shown CCTV footage of Cressey at Harness' home, spending about 45 minutes at the property.
Cressey argued he was just visiting his cousin to arrange a fishing trip, and left the property without Harness and Humphries to return home and let his dog out.
Despite claiming he was never in "frequent contact" with his cousin, Cressey exchanged several phone calls with him, both on the day of the attack, as well as two days afterwards.
Harness and Humphries were also seen on footage walking out of the property in Dixon Avenue towards Mr Cressey's vehicle with firebombs clearly visible in their hands.
Enhanced footage also showed Cressey driving his Saab past the property, along with what appears to be two other people in the car.
When interviewed by police, Cressey denied that his cousin or Humphries had been in his car outside the property, yet in the second interview, he said Harness had sat inside to have a chat.
The defendant, wearing a black suit and a silver tie in the dock, appeared unmoved when the verdict was delivered.
It was met by gasps from the public gallery and a cry of "wrong decision" from one member of his family.
Cressey, who did not give any evidence during the trial, will be sentenced as a man of good character, having received no previous convictions, warnings or reprimands.
Judge Mark Bury said: "You have committed a serious offence, and although you did not throw the firebombs yourself you knew full well what was going on.
"Even though you are of good character, a prison sentence is inevitable."
Cressey will now remain in custody until he is sentenced along with Harness and Humphries on December 20.
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