No Trial For Shop Owner Who Sold 'Obscene' CRADLE OF FILTH T-Shirt

Lauren Crooks of Scotsman.com reports that a Scottish shop owner charged with religious prejudice after selling an obscene CRADLE OF FILTH T-shirt will not face trial.

Captain Daniel Moore, 45, sold the T-shirt — which reads "Jesus is a cunt" and features a pornographic picture of a nun (see the offending t-shirt design at this location) — to an undercover policeman.

Minutes later a team of ten police officers raided his Edinburgh store and he was charged with selling obscene material aggravated by religious prejudice.

Moore insisted on his innocence during several appearances at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, and the Crown has now decided the case can be dealt with through an alternative to prosecution.

The owner of Electic Cabaret in Forrest Road was adamant he had only ordered the T-shirt after a number of his teenage customers requested it.

And he insisted that he warned people of the dangers of wearing the top.

Speaking from his shop on Thursday, he said: "I don't think it should ever have gone as far as it did. I knew I was innocent all along — this has been a waste of money."

He added: "The T-shirt is band merchandise and my customers chose to order it. I told the guy that bought it that he shouldn't wear it on the street."

Moore claimed the charge was unfair because he did not stock the T-shirt, or display it in his store.

Metro newspaper reported in October 2005 that a British teenage heavy metal fan had been handed a community service order for wearing the CRADLE OF FILTH "Jesus is a cunt" t-shirt.

Adam Shepherd, who was 19 at the time, was reportedly convicted under the then-new anti-hate laws which ban people from displaying religiously insulting signs.

The teenager was arrested after a woman complained to police when she saw his shirt, which shows a picture of a nun in a pornographic pose. The top was being worn by Shepherd's girlfriend when a police officer approached her. As soon as the teenager realized there was a problem, he told the officer it was his and swapped tops with his girlfriend. But he refused to take it off or cover it up and was arrested.

Shepherd, who bought the shirt in his hometown of Weymouth, Dorset, admitted the charge. Weymouth magistrates gave him 80 hours community service and told him to pay £40 costs (approx. $71 at the time).

Meanwhile, MediaWatchWatch.org.uk reported that the wearing of this T-shirt has led to at least two previous convictions in the UK.

Dale Wilson, 35, of Norwich, was arrested by two police officers as he walked to the newsagents on Halloween 2004. He pleaded guilty to "religiously aggravated offensive conduct." He was eventually discharged and told to "grow up." He paid £150 costs (approx. $266),and the judge ordered that the T-shirt be destroyed.

Back in 1997, Rob Kenyon, 29, of London was found guilty of committing the offense of "Profane Representation under the 1839 Act" by Bow Street Magistrates Court. He was fined £150.

CRADLE OF FILTH drummer Nicholas Barker was also arrested in Dover and charged with "creating a public disorder" for wearing the same t-shirt. There were no further proceedings against him.

From the NME: In 2001, the then-Lord Provost of Glasgow, Alex Mosson, campaigned to have the t-shirt prevented from being sold at Tower Records. The record shop was raided on two occasions by police, and eventually agreed to stop stocking the garment. The Catholic League of America, back in 1998 (amusing "Victory for Sickos" story) and 1999 (their call to action),also complained bitterly about the t-shirt.