A retired police officer who is appealing against a conviction for malicious communication after he posted a “grossly offensive” message about Islam on Facebook told a court he was highlighting child marriage and sexual abuse.
Stephen Gray, a 65-year-old father of two daughters who has fostered three girls, was convicted at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court after he re-posted a message on the platform, 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 at Teesside Crown Court was told.
A district judge at the magistrates’ court found that the post was grossly offensive and he was convicted in April.
Gray, of Darlington, who served with Cleveland Police for 27 years, was asked by his barrister John Beggs KC why he shared the post.
The ex-police officer 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, explaining: “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 court heard that the complaint was made to police by Gray’s next-door neighbour Alexander Kurlandzki.
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.
Gray’s appeal is supported by the Free Speech Union.