Man jailed for 15 years for hate crimes after leaving bacon in mosque

Michael Wolfe was also caught on CCTV smashing windows and lights with machete

Michael Wolfe has been sentenced to 15 years in prison along with 15 years probation (Brevard County Sherriff's Office)

A man who broke into a mosque and left a slice of raw bacon has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Michael Wolfe from Titusville in Florida pleaded guilty to the break-in at the Islamic Society of Central Florida Masjid Al-Munin Mosque in January 2016.

CCTV footage shows the 37-year-old smashing windows and lights with a machete before leaving bacon by the front door.

Wolfe pleaded guilty to criminal mischief to a place of worship with a hate crime enhancement on Tuesday, after a plea deal was arranged with the mosque and the police.

A spokesman for the State Attorney’s Office, Todd Brown, told Florida Today: “He entered a plea deal and plead guilty to vandalising the mosque itself with hate crime enhancement, making it a felony.

“He waived his right to a pre-sentencing investigation.”

In addition to the sentence, Wolfe will remain on probation for a further 15 years after his release.

A charge of armed burglary was dropped in exchange for the guilty plea, Mr Brown said.

According to state records Wolfe has numerous previous convictions for burglary.

Imam Muhammad Musri, who runs a network of mosques in central Florida, said the sentence would send a message to those who target Muslims.

He said: “The intent is to really deter similar kinds of hate crime.

“Our schools, our churches, our theatres, it's a red line. It's heartbreaking. The hate must stop”.